“‘MIC boss was a philanthropist’ – Family, Friends mourn Lagos plane crash victim, Tunji Okunsanya

By Kaymi on October 5, 2013@dailystarngnews

M.I.C (Magbamowo Industrial Company) boss, Tunji Okunsanya and son were part of the people who died in the Lagos plane crash on Thursday.

Mr Tunji died alongside his son, also known as Tunji Okunsanya. Until their death, they were residents of Odulami street, Tinubu square, Lagos.

Nation newspaper reports that at the MIC Casket office, sympathizers discussed in hushed tones, with most staring into space and shaking their heads in despair, as the staff move round as if unsure of what the future holds for them.

In the condolence register opened for sympathizers at the office, one sympathizer wrote: “Though you saw it coming, but no human power can resist it.” If the sympathizer knew that death was coming, no other neighbor saw the death of a man they all said was their benefactor coming.

The late Okusanya’s daughter, Wura, on learning of her father’s death, took to twitter to explain her grief. On Thursday night, she twitted: “Why my daddy why: Why plane crash whyyyy: Why my daddy why: My daddy and my brother Lord nooo My dad is dead!”

Alhaja Ajia Ayodele Sanusi has her shop almost directly opposite the MIC Casket office. She was still at a loss over the tragedy. “I saw him about two days ago. He didn’t betray anything like somebody who would die soon. He was such a lovely man. You can go round the entire street, we are all mourning. He did not discriminate, whether you are rich or poor. I know some women who come to him regularly for assistance. For instance, all the young men in the neighbourhood would gather in his house during any festival, and would feed everybody. Even my grandchildren would make sure that don’t fail to come with me because they know they would get something from him.

“Recently a woman lost her husband. The man did not waste time to take over the responsibility to pay for the school fees of the children. Those women that clean the street will not go home until they have seen him. They all converge at his office every day, and none of his staff dared to drive them away. What man would do that? I tell you, we will miss him greatly here.”

A few distance away, Francis Ajayi, the boss of St Francis Casket, is a long-time neighbor of the late Okusanya. “I have known him for a long time. I knew him and the late father very well. We all grew up together on this street, ”Ajayi said of his relationship with Okusanya.

Asked to comment on the type of person Okusanya was, Ajayi simply blurted out: “He was a philanthropist. He never had any enemy in the neighbourhood. He was loved by all. He was always there when you need his help. All the boys in the area were his boys, and he never disappointed them.” Himself an undertaker, Ajayi confessed that Okusanya’s death in the course of his duty has driven fear into him, vowing that he will never travel by air with a corpse. “I am scared. The story brought fear into me. I will never travel by air with a corpse. Rather, I would prefer to go and meet them by road. No more traveling by air with a corpse for me.”

Allen Magnus is the director of Monumental Marble, a tomb sculptor, said he first came in contact with the late Okusanya more than ten years ago. With their offices located a few buildings apart, Magnus said they see each other often. He said he lacked the words to comment on the sad incident, but quickly added that the MIC boss was large-hearted man. “It is tough to describe him. He was a cheerful giver who was loved by both men and women. You cannot really say who will miss him the most. The area boys in this area will miss him, the widows, the young men and women will miss him. The truth is that everybody that knew him would miss him.”

Source: The Nation