By Femi Atolagbe
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Tears flowed freely Wednesday evening when the remains of former handballer and sportswriter, late Olajide Fashikun were laid to rest at Obbo Aiyegunle in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State.

Sports Journalists, administrators, the Children, family members as well as Ondo and Kwara States governments representatives reeled out the character of the deceased.

The leader of Ondo State delegation and Commissioner for Youth Development  and Sports, Mr. Saka Yusuf Ogunleye described his death as a huge loss to Ondo State and Nigeria.

“The late Fashikun is unforgettable in Ondo due to what he was to us. He was our friend.

Fashikun supported us in every way he could. In his area of specialisation, which is Sports, he worked very hard with us in moving the sector forward. Sincerely, the role Fashikun played in shaping and moving our sports forward is unquantifiable. He was always willing to render assistance whenever the need arose. To us in Ondo, he became our son.”

The Commissioner added that the government of Ondo State planned to support the late sports administrator’s family.

“His death has not put paid to our relationship; in every way we can, we shall render assistance to the family he left behind. The members of the family of an individual of his caliber are ours.”

The Kwara State government, Athletes Federation of Nigeria, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Handball Federation Nigeria, Nigeria Union of Journalists amongst others also paid glowing tributes to the fallen sports reporter.

His son Femi, former 100 meters African Women Champion, Mary Onyali, family members and friends showered encomiums on late Fashikun.

They described him with accolades such as a “selfless, non-tribal, nonreligious,” and “uncompromising against justice, workaholic and a dogged fighter”.

In a short and pungent sermon, Prophet Johnson Salami, who read from Ecclesiastes 3:19, death is inevitable for all mortals, regardless of status, possession and knowledge.

According to the cleric, everyone should prepare to die every day as death would not give warning before striking.

“No unrighteous person can make Heaven to meet His maker. We should all make our ways acceptable to God.

It is foolhardy for any matured individual not to know that he would leave this world one day.

We came to this world at birth and we shall depart when its time.

No power can stop or prevent it from happening.

Other members of the Ondo State delegation were the General Manager of the State Sports Council, Chief Wande Fabuluje and Director of Coaching, Mr. Sunday Fagite.