NUSA mourns member killed in South Africa in December

By Peter Ejiofor

The Nigerian community in South Africa says it has been thrown into mourning with the death of one of its members, Mr Olusola Solarin, who was killed on Dec. 12, 2021 in South Africa.

The community, under the aegis of Nigeria Union South Africa (NUSA), made the assertion on Friday in Lagos in a statement jointly signed by its President, Mr Collins Mgbo, and the Secretary-General, Mr Nimram Durven Longbap-Longs, emailed from Pretoria.

They union said that Solarin, a businessman who had a chain of businesses, including pharmaceuticals, clothes and shoes among others, has been buried in his private residence in Makun-Sagamu, Ogun State on Jan. 3, 2022.

The late Solarin was said to have supplied some of his customers outside Johannesburg and while returning to his base, he was waylaid and in an attempt to prevent his assailants from collect the money he was paid, they killed him.

In the union’s condolence message to his wife, Doris, who is the Vice-President of NUSA and its Head of Programmes, they said the Nigerian community in South Africa would miss him dearly.

It said, however, that their solace was in God, knowing full well that he had run his race and that his reward awaited him at the bosom of God Almighty.

“I have never seen a man with a heart of gold: I’ve never seen a man so hardworking that with little he has built so much for his family within a reasonable time of his life.

“Life isn’t fair enough to allow him just to taste the fruit of his labour. I am pushed to ask `God why’ but if I do, of what benefit is it? Will he be brought back to life?’’, Mgbo wrote in his tribute to Solarin.

The NUSA president said he had wished it was on a different platform instead of his death that he was privileged to talk about his exploits in life but that fate is the destiny all shall experience someday.

He described the deceased as a brilliant, hardworking Nigerian citizen in South Africa. a role model of what a true Nigerian is, a motivator, community leader, human rights activist and a very religious man.

“On behalf of NUSA, the President-General, Mr Collins Mgbo expresses the union’s heartfelt condolences to you and your family on the senseless brutal murder of your loving and patriotic husband.

“It is NUSA’s prayer that the Almighty will grant you the determination to bear this irremediable loss.

“Please keep it in mind that your late husband’s best wishes will always be with you and your children throughout the rest of your life.

“May Comrade Solarin’s gentle soul rest in peace.’’