The death of a 31-year-old headmaster, Ali James Adedayo, just three days to his wedding is causing ripples.
Adedayo, a headteacher of a private school, Smart Land Group of Schools, Oke Aro, Ogun State, on the outskirts of Lagos, died on Wednesday, December 12, 2007, while his wedding was programmed for Saturday, December 15, 2007.
Family sources said Adedayo’s problem began immediately after his traditional marriage, which took place last November in Delta State, when he was hit by a strange ailment.
According to reports, after his customary marriage the deceased began to send out invitation cards for his wedding, which was scheduled for Ilupeju area of Lagos, but a day after he became sick and bedridden.
The deceased teacher lived in a one-room apartment at Tokotaya area of Iju/Ishaga in Ifako/Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos State. But family sources hinted that before he went for his traditional marriage, he rented a three-bedroom flat at Oke-Aro area of Ogun State.
gathered that he had planned to move to his new home with his spouse on Saturday, December 15, 2007, right from the venue of the wedding party, which was also fixed for Ilupeju, a suburb of Lagos. But it was never to be.
Further investigations revealed that many invitees to the wedding, who were unaware of Adedayo’s demise, had stormed the wedding venue that Saturday with their gorgeous attires. Even the best man arrived the country from London a day before the wedding day.
Guests were all seated in the church auditorium with great expectations only to be told later that the groom had died three days before and therefore the wedding had been called off.
There was uproar in the church as those who came to celebrate wailed and sobbed.
The deceased teacher, who hailed from Ijebu-Igbo in Ogun State, had a masters’ degree from the Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma. His wife is from Delta State.
His aged father, Mr. James Adedayo, while lamenting the death of his son said he was formerly a Muslim before he embraced Christianity in 1960, adding that since then he had suffered several persecutions.
He disclosed to sympathisers that he now dreads the number ‘12’. "My son died at exactly 12 midnight on December 12, 2007," he said, adding: "Why 12-12-12?"
According to him, his fate is now in the hands of the Almighty God.
An uneasy calm now pervades the premises of Smart Land Nursery/Primary School, where he was headmaster until his death.
When we visited the school’s premises recently all the staff were seen standing in groups discussing the demise of their former boss in hushed tones.
A female teacher in the school, who preferred anonymity said: "Adedayo was an easy-going boss. We will miss him."
Adedayo was buried on Thursday, December 13, 2007, at Ijebu-Igbo Cemetery, Ogun State. But more than three weeks after, his ghost has refused to rest. And the pertinent poser on everyone’s lip is: What killed Adedayo?