Chief Elemure Ogunyemi, 71,
popular Ekiti traditional musician has passed on.
According to the report,
he was said to have breathed his last at his residence in the Ekute area of
Ado-Ekiti, the state capital in the early hours of Saturday, 19th, September.
In terms of the
promotion of Yoruba ethics, language, songs, poetry and other related elements,
Ogunyemi was in the league of the likes of Yusuf Olatunji, Ayinla Omowura,
Orlando Owoh, Comfort Omoge, Ayinla Adegato, Tatalo Alamu, Dauda Epo Akara and
Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, all now late.
Ekiti State Governor,
Dr. Kayode Fayemi, describing his loss as a great one, he added that the death
of the musician, who positively projected the image of the state and was the
first musician of Ekiti descent to receive a global recognition, was a great
loss to the state.
“He promised the
readiness of his administration to immortalise the deceased as a mark of honour
for being a worthy Ekiti ambassador in his lifetime. Fayemi urged the family
and associates of the deceased to take heart and be consoled by his positive
contributions to the development of the state,” the statement added.
Also, the Minister of
State for Works, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye, has described Elemure as a
philosopher.
Adeyeye said, “Those of
us who love his brand of music cannot but be grieved at the loss of such a great
and patriotic Ekiti son, who used his God-given talent to promote Ekiti
culture, tradition, unity and development.
“Elemure Ogunyemi’s song; A ti riun ka nwa o Ekiti Kete (We have got what we desired), in which he celebrated the creation of Ekiti State in 1996, is an anthem of a sort in Ekiti and anywhere Ekiti people can be found in the entire world.
He added that the
musician’s death was not only a painful loss to the people of Ekiti State, but
the entertainment industry in Nigeria.
“I therefore urge my
in-laws in Ikole-Ekiti in particular and the entire people of Ekiti State to be
consoled by the fact that Elemure Ogunyemi lived a fulfilled live. His
footprints on the sands of Ekiti State will forever remain indelible and our
people should grief less, bearing in their minds that death is the inevitable
end of all mortals and it must come when it would come,” the minister added.
Culled: Punch.ng
No comments:
Post a Comment