Society Gists

In the hitherto enviable and exotic world of Lagos  top designer, Maureen Onigbanjo, the sky is no longer a silvery and opalescent delight; it is now pitch black and brackish.  And sadly, it would take almost forever for things to return to normalcy for Maureen and family. Yes, she lost her son in London! And you couldn’t have forgotten so soon how she lost her husband, a  London-based founder of Lakoom Enterprises, Wale Latif Onigbanjo, few years ago. And she is till mourning!

The deceased, a 31 year old boy, effortlessly combined the wisdom of old age with exuberance of youth thus manifesting as an inspiring bridge between, young and old, past and present. While alive, the past throbbed through him in a mighty rhythm and the future pounded the drums of eternity to which he swayed as the tides and seasons swayed.

Pity he had to depart the world so soon. He was handsome, gregarious and had a good head on his shoulders; every parent’s pride and hope for grey days.

Were an outpouring of attributes, eulogies and tears potent enough to rouse a dead man, Onigbanjo junior would have reconsidered spending a few more days before plunging into his eternal sleep. But as family and friends converged at his parents’ house in London for a condolence visit, albeit sadly, the young and fun-loving dude would never resurrect for a brief parting repartee.

If  Maureen, who recently celebrated her 60th birthday, indeed, had one chance to make a wish, she would probably seek an immediate reversal of the death of her  loving son into a dream, or better still, just mere nightmare. Watching her bemoan her fate, you could feel and touch her grief and like someone who has signed out on laughter, the sounds and melody of tumbrels and harps for her have stopped making any meaning, for now.