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BABAJIDE JACKSON 1971 – 2019

 

By Ahmed Ajikobi

The Ilorin Christian cemetery, Oke-Ose, Ilorin East Local Government
Area of Kwara State, witnessed large turnout of sympathisers last
Thursday as colleagues, friends and relatives paid last respect to
Babajide Jackson, the departed husband of National Pilot Newspaper
Editor, Mrs Joke Adeniyi-Jackson.
Jackson who died penultimate Sunday was the Chief Engineer of the
National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation (NCAM), Amoyo, Kwara
State.
Most of the sympathisers described the deceased as a caring man and
one who related with his colleagues and friends without borders.
Speaking during the burial, his younger brother, Segun Jackson said
the death of Babajide, came to him as a rude shock adding that the
father of four will be sorely missed by him and other members of the
family.
On his part, Pastor Samuel, who said he grew up with the deceased and
other members of the family noted that the late Jackson touched many
lives while alive.
“No matter how bad you are, he will accommodate you, advice you until
you change for good. If he sees anyone doing something bad or going
wayward he will tell that person not to go that way, preach Christ to
such person life. His death is painful but we take solace in the fact
that Jide died in Christ.”
In a similar vein, the deceased’s colleague at NCAM, Laraba Ayuba
described herself as the chief mourner after late Jackson’s wife.
“I can boldly say that Jackson made me who I am today at NCAM and the
entire NCAN family will miss him,” she said.
Speaking further, she said, “He sent me a text message that he was
admitted at the hospital. We are all hoping that he will get well soon
but we never expected that it will end like this.”
According to Engr Charles who attends the same church with the
deceased, “Though he is older than me, he related with me as if we are
mates.
“Last month, he came to my place and discovered something was not good
with me. He said to me, ‘you are pastor, why not turn things around
with prayer.’
In his sermon Pastor Gideon Majekodunmi of the Redeemed Christian
Church of God, Vine Parish, Ilorin charged everyone to remember death
and not to priortise worldly things.
According to him, it is prearranged that everyman shall die and after
death there will be judgement.
Continuing, he said, “Let this be a caution for you. Life is a journey
that has an end and the end is death. It is left to you to do good or
bad in life.”
Present at the burial ceremony were the MD/Editor-in-Chief of National
Pilot Newspaper, Alh. Billy Adedamola, the former chief press
secretary to ex-governor of the state, Alh. Mas’ud Adebimpe,
management and staff of NCAM, leadership and members of the Nigeria
Union of Journalists, Kwara State chapter among others.

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