ÌRÓKÒ

Telling stories through my lens. {Episode 3}

🎶 Save You A Seat - Alex Warren

Ìrókò stands as a metaphor for strength, stability, and resilience, embodying exactly who he was. He was nicknamed Ìrókò for those reasons.

Have you ever felt like the events in your life resembled scenes from a Nollywood movie, particularly a Yoruba movie? I have had a few such experiences, but last year's events truly shook me. I never imagined those seemingly fictional scenes would play out in real life. It felt like a part of my world crashed like a house of cards.

Photo by Mike Labrum on Unsplash

I wish I had taken all the chances and heeded the signs to visit Iroko before his demise. I would have seen those beautiful smiles once more and heard him tell me to call him if I ever had any issues at the University of Ibadan. Knowing Iroko, he was always ready to show up for the ones he loved. Little did I know that on a Tuesday morning, my father's birthday, I would randomly stumble upon a WhatsApp status with Iroko's picture and the caption "Rest in peace..." I had to ask, "Is that not Prof. Ajewole?" doubting both the picture and the caption. It felt surreal. How shocking it was to find out my uncle had been assassinated the previous day through a WhatsApp status. LOL! As if that weren't enough, the news had been circulating throughout the school and press, but most of my family members hadn't heard it yet. Instead of wishing my father a happy birthday that morning, I had to inform him that his "brother Ope" had been shot.

ÌRÓKÒ has fallen?

Indeed, life is spiritual.

A week before the tragic event, I ran into a secondary school classmate at the UI main gate. It was the first time I had seen her since valedictory service. Despite being at the same university for years, we had never crossed paths until that day. While I had met other classmates from our school randomly around campus, this was the first time I met her. We chatted for a while, and I asked her which department she was in. When she mentioned Iroko's department, I told her that she was in my uncle's department. We talked about it, and I mentioned that I had been meaning to visit him but kept postponing it. I told her I planned to go soon with my brother, who was also planning to visit him. I'm certain her first thought after hearing the news would have been about our conversation the previous week. It's a year already, and I haven't seen her since. In hindsight, that random meeting was likely a sign to say hello and pay my visit to the department, but I didn't.

The weekend before the tragic event, I visited my designer to discuss some business. She had just moved to a new apartment, and it was my first time there. I had never visited Iroko at his home; we usually met at school because it was easier or at his brother's house in Ilesa when I’m there. On the day I heard the news, I went to his department first and then, for the first time, to Iroko's house with my folks. Life is so unfair—why did I find out that Iroko's house was the last one on the same street I had visited just three days earlier? The house I visited and Iroko's house were just a stone's throw apart. Was that supposed to be another sign, or just the guilt that followed?

One year has passed after the terrible incident. We are all still in continual reminder of the man who was a breath of fresh air, even after it devastated us all.
I have been wanting to talk about this for a long time, and although this piece is far from perfect, I have struggled for a year to write about it. I know there are no words to express the sadness that floods my heart every time I think of Ìrókò.

To Ìrókò…
You know the saying, you never really realise how important something is to you until you lose it? I've been going through a lot in school lately, and every time I go back to your words encouraging me to call you if I need anything, I start crying uncontrollably.

I miss calling you "daddy" whenever I happen to spot you at school. You’re greatly missed!♥
Though there are still a lot of unsolved questions after a year, allow me to say, Rest in peace, Prof. Opeyemi I. Ajewole (IROKO)

…oh! I was about to end this, but Emerald said this piece wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t remind God that the perpetrators of this evil deed still needed to be punished. May those involved get what they deserve. 🙏