AN Egba High Chief, Chief Oluwole Olumide, on Friday evening at about 8.30 pm committed suicide by jumping into the artificial lake within the vicinity of the controversial Abeokuta Golf Resort.
Sunday Tribune learnt that the deceased who was also the Balogun Imo, until recently, was the Chief Promoter of the Golf Place, before the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of the place was revoked by Senator Ibikunle Amosun- led government based on the recommendation of the Judicial Panel of Enquiry, which was set up to investigate issues relating to land matters and allocations during the last administration.
The late Olumide, who would have clocked 70 years in May, was said to have been driven to the Golf Beach Resort by his driver.
Sunday Tribune gathered from a source that the deceased had directed his driver to call his steward. However, before the duo returned, his whereabouts could not be traced.
It was further gathered that his pair of shoes was found at the lakeside after efforts to reach him on phone to ascertain where he was failed.
The source said, “”When the driver returned to the lakeside, his whereabouts could not be traced, but his pair of shoes was found at the bank of the lake.
“Initially, the duo did not suspect any foul play, even though they attempted to reach him on phone after combing the vicinity of the beach.
“When the driver and the steward could not find their master, they alerted his family members who arrived at the scene shortly after.”
When Sunday Tribune visited the scene, scores of symphatisers were seen at the entrance of the Golf Resort Place, while officials of the Nigeria Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) mounted security around the premises.
It took the intervention of local divers to bring out Olumide’s lifeless body from the artificial lake before it was taken away in the NSCDC ambulance marked CIVIL DEFENCE CD 1041A to the Neuropsychiatric Hospital Morgue.
Former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, was one of the early callers at the scene.
Osoba, in company of the senator representing Ogun Central Senatorial District, Gbenga Obadara, described his death as unfortunate.
Osoba said, “It is unfortunate. His body has just been recovered by local fishermen and put in an ambulance. I cannot say much now, I leave everything to God.”
It would be recalled that the deceased was last week interrogated by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on issues relating to the allocation of land of the entire Abeokuta Golf Place.
As at the time of this report, no suicidal note was seen by the family while his colleagues at the palace of the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland were said to be meeting over the ugly development.
When Sunday Tribune visited the deceased’s house (Toria House) on Shonekan Street, off Ogundimu, Ita-Eko, Abeokuta, a condolence register had been opened.
Sympathisers were seen discussing in groups within the premises of the building.
The Ogun State government in its reaction described the death of Olumide as shocking.
In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa, said “the Ogun State Government has received with shock the news of the death of Apagun Oluwole Olumide, a prominent citizen of the state who is said to have died last night.
“Governor Ibikunle Amosun is saddened by this development and on behalf of himself, the government and the good people of Ogun State, hereby commiserates with the entire Olumide family, his friends and associates and prays that God gives them the fortitude to bear the loss.”
In his condolence letter to the family of the deceased, former governor of the state, Chief Gbenga Daniel, said that the country and the state had lost a great icon and promoter of tourism.
He prayed for the repose of his soul.
The letter reads, “On behalf of myself, and family, I wish to commiserate with you on the unfortunate demise of our friend and brother, Arc Wole Olumide, the Apagunpote of Egbaland.
“In Apagun, I do believe that our state and our country have lost an icon, and a major promoter of tourism, entrepreneurship and economic development of our people and of Egbaland in particular.
“In fact I am tempted to rate Apagun as a modern day Lisabi or Sodeke when I consider some of his silent but very effective contribution to his immediate Environment. As Governor, Apagun as he was fondly called encouraged us to do a lot of work in Abeokuta.
“Together we conceptualized the development of Olumo Rock as an International Tourist Centre that it has become today.
“Together, we conceptualized and developed the new Lalubu Road as our own ‘Broad street’ and commercial nerve centre in Abeokuta.
“Together, we conceptualized the new Abeokuta Central Business District, which we christened the Abeokuta City Centre and he actually designed and supervised the new OPIC Plaza, the tallest building in Ogun State and second tallest in the old Western region,next only to the Cocoa House in Ibadan, within this future City Centre.
“All these pale into insignificance when we evaluate his contribution to the development of Abeokuta Golf Course, the Waterfalls, Hotel, and Rather ironically the Artificial Lake where Apagun died yesterday. For Apagun the Golf project was his life probably in the last 2 decades or more, and through this project, he became the single biggest promoter of Tourism by the volume of high net worth individuals that visited the State while it lasted.
“Nationally, Apagun designed the National Ecumenical Centre, i e the best Christian Worship Centre in Abuja. On occasions like this all we can do is pray that God in his infinite mercies will give the family the grace and fortitude to bear this great loss. Adieu, Apagun. Rest in perfect peace.”
The Ogun State Police Command in a statement signed by the new state commissioner of Police, Mr. Okoye Ikemefuna, said that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), had commenced investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding his death.
The CP said that no mark of violence was observed on his body after it was recovered from the lake.
He confirmed that the late Olumide went to the lakeside of the Resort with his driver at about 7.30pm and later sent him on an errand to his house located at Ita-Eko, Surulere area of Abeokuta.
The police statement said, "Available information has it that the deceased went to the lakeside of the Resort behind the State Secretariat, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, with his driver at about 19.30hrs.
"He later sent his driver back on errand to his house at Ita- Eko, Surulere area of Abeokuta.
"When the driver came back, the chief could not be located but his shoes and cap where found by the lakeside.
"A search party was immediately drafted to the scene. The search continued till about 01hrs of 17 March, 2012 without success.
"However, at about 6hrs, the search resumed and the body of the deceased was recovered at about 9hrs. The body was viewed and no mark of violence was observed."
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