We lost the last of three musketeers, Liadi Orunsolu. Orun ire o.

Segun Showunmi

When the news broke of the passing onto glory of the Chief Imam of Egbaland, Alhaji Liadi Orunsolu, I felt a sort of somber realisation that indeed the last of the three musketeers had gone to take a deserved rest for indeed all souls must taste death. The appointed time has come for a man who has had a good life, a life devoted to the worship of God, according to his faith, Islam.

It seemed he would always be around. He stayed till the ripe age of 99. He enjoyed such vitality and sound memory, such that if you were at any function with Baba and heard him do the Islamic preaching, you would thank his maker for him.

Alas, our Egba nation has lost a big Iroko. We had Sheikh Sadrudeen Bamidele Biobaku and Alhaji Lateef Adegbite and the now-departed Alhaji Liadi Orunsolu as strong pillars of the faith and reliable pegs in our Egba nation. They are truly irreplaceable. We mourn and celebrate at the same time. We will draw strength from the courage of convictions, firmness of resolution and an unapologetic tenacity in all things of Egba interest.

May God give the Egba nation the fortitude to bear this loss. Be assured that we will not waver in the teachings and lessons you all have left us with. May the successors be inbuilt with the sense of duty that makes a whole nation mourn you.

Sun re o, Alhaji Liadi Orunsolu, Chief Imam of Egbaland.