IKOYI BUILDING COLLAPSE: OONI'S MEDIA AIDE OLAFARE MOURNS LATE DEVELOPER'S FRIEND, BOB-OSENI, REVEALS HE WAS A GOOD FRIEND AND LOVER OF ILE-IFE

The Director of Media and Public Affairs, Ooni of Ife's Palace Comrade Moses Olafare has expressed sadness over the death of Late Wale Bob-Oseni, an American based Nigerian Real Estate Dealer and friend to Late Mr. Femi Osibona, Owner of the 21-storey building which collapsed in at Gerard area of Ikoyi, Lagos State on Monday last week, killing the two of them.

Late Wale Bob-Oseni, the Executive Director of African Bureau for Legislative Empowerment was said to be on his way to the US when he got a call from his friend Late Femi Osibona, CEO of Fourscore Homes on that fateful day 1st of November, 2021 to come and check out the building construction work but the duo never made it alive.

In a very emotional Facebook post titled "MY FRIEND WOULD HAVE STARTED SHOPPING FOR HIS 50TH BIRTHDAY IN AMERICA", Olafare expressed sadness over Oseni's demise, revealing how good a friend he was to him.

Olafare while recounting his recent discussions with Late Oseni in the said post also revealed he was a good friend of the House of Oduduwa with a deep love for Ile-Ife, the source and the Yoruba race.

"Wale Bob Oseni! Where are ayou?????? Exactly two weeks ago, Sunday 24th October 2021 precisely, we were together at the Iya Adura's Love of Christ Church, Victoria Island, Lagos for Mr Dele Momodu's Thanksgiving Service. 

"As I walked alongside the Iyalaje Oodua Worldwide Princess Dr Toyin Kolade into the reception arena on the 2nd floor of the church, I heard a call of my name "Moses!!!" I looked towards the direction of the call and I saw you, already leaving your seat to meet us(humility). 

"Of course I was surprised to see you, because I never knew you were still in the country since our last meeting earlier this year( February) when you visited my office at the palace in Ile-Ife. "Paddy mi! O wo'lu, oo je ki n mo; My friend! So, you came into the country and you didn't let me know" I said. 

No no no! I've not gone back to the US since the last time we saw" You swiftly replied me and you continued by reminding me of how you had in February intimated me of your plan to remain in Naija for a possible long stay as you were being or might be involved in a huge project and that you've only concluded plans to travel in November to meet your family after close to year and to return to Nigeria as  soon possible. 

"You friendly lambasted me to have not picked your several calls, I disagreed with you "Aaaah Wale! You didn't call me ooooo" both of us brought out our phones to confirm through call logs for evidences and counter evidences. It ended in a 'No Victor No Vanquished' manner. 

"Hmmmmm I also still recalled how we gisted for about 30 minutes in a very deep discussion which we had to adjourn till anytime soon upon returning from your planned journey to the America.......... 

- Your 50th birthday 

- Ile-Ife 

- State of Osun

- Oodua Race

- Nigeria

- Politics 

- Economy........ 

"Moses! Why are the roads in Ile-Ife so terribly deplorable?" "There is so much hunger in the country" "Where are the rich Ife indigenes? and blablabla...."

"Wale! We certainly can't be discussing these issues here. We shall fully discuss when next you come to Ife" I simply replied. We sat and continued with why we were at the event till we left for our separate destinations. 

"Safe flight Wale as you fly to the US next month and regards to your family especially your daughter that I hosted 2 years ago at the palace." I said. "Thanks friend! See you soon by God's grace and I will deliver your message. My regards to your family too". He replied. 

"You are so compassionate. You are so good a friend. You love Ile-Ife so much. You are so hardworking. You are so super smart. You wanted success. You worked for it. And you got it. But................. Hmmmmmm Really sad! 

"Wale! You had committed no crime to have returned home to join in the development of your fatherland. You had committed no crime to have decided to visit your darling wife and precious children in the US after almost one year without them physically. 

"And you had committed no crime to have branched to see your friend Late Femi Osibona who I heard was equally a business partner (even in the project in question) on that fateful day either as invited or nor

"The news that you are gone is thus like a dream. I can only pray for your gentle soul and the family you left behind to be able to bear the irreparable loss your very sad untimely death may cause.

"We were together two weeks ago in very high spirit and hoped to meet again in another one month, only to read this sad news 9 days later. Aaaah!

"My wife screamed "God! Why?" when she heard that my friend friend who 2 years ago sent a free Ankara(Aso ebi) to her for his mother in law's burials was the same Wale Bob Oseni trapped alongside his friend as widely reported.

"Idowu Salami the Ooni's Traditional Secretary broke down when I reminded him of Wale Bob Oseni, my friend who took us in his his Red Color Range Rover from our hotel; Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center National Harbor, Washington DC to Walmart National Harbor Blvd, Fort Washington, MD when we needed to do shopping in 2016. Jumoke Precious  Princess Anike too was with us. Hmmm So, you would never made the US trip? Goodnight my dear Wale Bob Oseni.

"May I also pray for the gentle souls of all other people(including your friend Femi) who lost their lives in the ill-fated building collapse while I congratulate the miraculous survivors and those who had earlier before the fateful day visited the same pent house my senior St. Jonhnian Mr Dele Momodu of Ovation Magazine and My good brother and friend, Alhaji Rotimi Osobemekun 

"Ojo A Jina Si'ra o!

A Ko Ni Si N'ile L'ojo T'ebi N'pa Ile

A Ko Ni Rin L'onaL'ojo T'ebi N'p'ona

Gbogbo Omo Ile-lfe A ku Ara Fe'ra Ku o

"Wale, I once again pray the Almighty Olodumare will give your family and relatives home and abroad the fortitude needed to bear the loss your death may have come to cause. AMIN! ASE! AMEN!", Olafare wrote.

A total of 44 bodies have so far been pulled out of the rubble as of Sunday with a record of 15 survivors while search and rescue operation is near conclusion.