Editorial Column

Kamorudeen Lanre Mabinuori, KLM – When A Good Man Takes His Final Bow…

Published

4 years ago

Aug 22, 2020.

By Otunba T.J Abass

It all started as a silent whisper exactly a week ago, and the reaction, expectedly, was one of self-denial, in the midst of obvious proofs. How do you want to accept the news of the exit from terrestrial planes of a man of such immense clout and impact, a larger than life!

My nerves were further on the wreck with the calls from itinerant journalists seeking to confirm what for me, was a terrible piece of information.

They wanted a confirmation if KLM, the Balogun General, has indeed left us without saying goodbye.

Of course, I told them I hadn’t heard the news, more a manifestation of my wish for that time, my state of mind, rather than the true state of the situation.

Who would just break such news, on a man that left fond memories in very recent interactions, who wielded so much power, the Balogun General of Epe Kingdom himself, who left grand images of grandeur horse-riding during the yearly Ojude Oba festival!

To say that the man usually heralded by 7 gun salutes, boisterous cheers and deafening ovation to the grounds of the epochal event was no more, was far beyond my nerves for that time.

But of course, that was the bitter realization – the reputed Dodondawa was gone and forever; the entire Epe was thrown into grief.
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Pity mortal man: with all his accomplishments and conquests, death has remained his unresolved riddle, a mystery that duly presses home the Almighty’s supremacy.

The great beyond remains mortal man’s inevitable destination, a journey with an inescapable due time.

Death is an unforeseen occurrence, a grim reaper whose harvest time remains foreclosed to man, and whose choices and preferences usually leave the living heartbroken.

So much the question “why?” usually follows the unplanned exit of loved ones, the same question we ask now, in the case of KLM, famed acronym for Kamorudeen Lanre Mabinuori.

Why deprive the community of an individual that has proven himself a rare gift to the land, an impact-maker in the socio-economic landscape of the community?

There is never an answer to those questions except for the fact that the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh.
KLM has gone to meet his creator. How we all wished that the Lord could have allowed him a little longer time for more impacts on lives and his community.

But truly, the Lord giveth and taketh, but the fact that the Epe community has been robbed of one of his illustrious sons whose legacy will remain a subject of public discourse, is not in doubt.

Kamorudeen Lanre Mabinuori’s story is a classic case of rag to riches. His humble beginning and the early childhood challenges that were peculiar to any child growing up in Epe were not a deterrent to his determination for success.

He became an accomplished businessman with a strong political pedigree, the latter attracting more accolades than his business accomplishments.

Yet, his political adventure might not be unconnected with his desire to affect the lives of the underprivileged in Epe and that he did for over 5 decades of his political experience. The Epe political space which he had helped nurture and redefine will not remain the same.

Colorful in politics and enigmatic in business, he remained unapologetic in his commitment to the course of Epe development.

He had an unequaled spirit of altruism and was reciprocal in his expression of love for the community.

KLM was usually in the quest for value-yielding and employment, creating enterprises to establish in the community so some youths could find means of economic engagement.

He left sundry lessons with his pioneering block making enterprise, set up at an early age, and made a success of.

His winning values remained humility and resourcefulness.

In the political arena, he achieved feats: he was a member of Lagos State Governor Advisory Council, former Transportation Commissioner, former Chairman, Epe Local Government who built Grammar School Estate, one of the properties of the Local Government; as well as Balogun of Epe Division, an honourary Chieftaincy title he held until his death.

Yet, individual accolades meant nothing to KLM; Despite his achievement, climbing the ladder of success, he never forgot his roots, but remained a crusader for the underprivileged, the megaphone for the voiceless and a driver that is always exploring and navigating the road to success for the oppressed, his passengers

KLM left a great legacy. He lived like a king even though he wasn’t one but a childhood friend of a King, the Oloja of Epe.

He lived like a champion, not a boxing ring champion but a dogged fighter in other spheres with many victories to his credit in his 74-year sojourn.

He might not have had the opportunity of western education, nor a product of America’s Ivy School, Yale or Havard, but he could stand toe to toe with products of the best.

He was always masterful in his presentations. His diction and delivery were top-notch.

There was this aura about him that radiated and endeared him to us. He was our pride. The Epe pride.

He wasn’t a perfect man by any stretch of the imagination as infallibility belongs to God.

Because KLM ran a good race, he was well-loved across the divides.

No doubt, he had graduated from the University of Life with distinction. May ALLAH SWT in His Infinite Mercy pardon all his shortcomings and give his family and entire Epe Community the fortitude to bear the loss.

The love the community had for him was manifested by the mammoth crowd that came to bid him farewell, not minding the uncertainty and the peril of the moment, a total disregard for the COVID 19 protocols.

There couldn’t have been a better way to reciprocate a life of selfless service.

If nothing else, there is a consolation for KLM in this rare show of solidarity by the Epe people, that the seeds of love that he sowed were never in vain, but that in life and death, he has left legacies that will endure.
Fare thee well, KLM. Fare thee well.

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