NIGERIA: Season Of Eminent Deaths

NOVEMBER has come with a plethora of eminent deaths. In the season of deaths Nigeria has recorded sad moments across it's major regions, spanning through several fields and callings. First to die early this month was Nigeria civil war leading figure, General Mohammed Mamman Shuwa, who was killed in his home in Maidugiri, capital of Borno State by unknown gunmen. Then the flury of big deaths, this week in which for the fourth time, Nigerian woke up to the sad news of the demise of frontline personalities and statesmen.
The death of Justice Eso, the man many describe as the Father of Judicial Activism in Nigeria in London in the early hours of Friday came as the country was just recovering from the death of the Nollywood star and veteran, Peter Eneh; the former Oyo State Governor, Alhaji Lamidi Adesina and second republic Senate Leader, Dr. Olusola Saraki.

Adesina died in St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos during an illness early last Sunday and was buried in his home in Ibadan same day.

On Wednesday, the strongman of Kwara politics and godfather of many, Dr Olusola Saraki also died in his Lagos home following complications from cancer. The remains of Saraki, the Senate leader in the Second Republic was flown to Ilorin, his hometown for burial same day.

On Thursday, Nollywood Star, Peter Eneh also died in an Enugu hospital from complications arising from diabetic wound which led to his amputation.

As the nation was still reeling from the shock with tributes and commiseration, the sad news of Justice Eso broke on Friday.

Eso, who was regarded by many in the legal community as one of the most daring and respected jurists of his era in the Supreme Court, was given  the Commander of the Federal Republic award recently by President Goodluck Jonathan. Born in Ilesha, Osun State, he had a bachelors as well as masters degree in law from the Trinity Collegem Ireland. He was aged 87.