Activities at Okpella, hometown of late former Super Eagles’ Coach, Shaibu Amodu was on Saturday brought to a standstill following news of death of their son.
A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who was among early arrivals, reports that some shops in the town did not open as news of death of a son of the soil had reached the community.
Those who were to leave for the various markets, made u-turns and instead headed toward the family home of the deceased.
It was observed that most residents, who were in pensive mood gathered in clusters to discuss the death. The sympathisers continued to throng the family house to express their condolences.
Yinusa Amodu, a younger brother to the late coach expressed shock at the demise of his brother, who had promised to visit home this weekend.
“He is more or less like our father, since the death of our father. We regard him as our father.
“We spoke on Wednesday (June 8) after the death of Coach Stephen Keshi was announced and he told me he was coming home for the weekend.
“It was shocking when I received news this morning that he is gone”..
Yinusa noted that news of his brother’s death had not been disclosed to their aged mother.
“It is a taboo for parents to see corpse of their children. Our mother has been taken to the palace of Okwokpellagbe Okpella, the paramount ruler to stop her from seeing Shaibu’s corpse.
“As customs demand, mama is not aware of his death. She has been taken away to the palace of the royal majesty.
“Definitely, before his burial, we will break the news to her. We have delegated some women to stay with her in the palace,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, the remains of Amodu arrived at his country home, Okpella, in Estako East LGA, amidst tears from sympathisers
The corpse arrived at his hometown at about 1:05pm in company of the Edo State Commissioner for Information, Kassim Afegbua.
Many residents, including school children, market women, and commercial motorcyclists lined the streets of Okpella to catch a glimpse of the corpse of the late soccer icon.
Many relations, friends and sympathisers also wept uncontrollably.
The information Commissioner Afegbua described the death as `shocking’. “we were together yesterday (on Friday) in my office and we discussed our community.
“And when he was leaving my office he wished me good bye. I did not know that it was going to be my last with him’’.
Amodu, 58, was until his death, the Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation.
NAN
