Lagos lawmaker, Adedamola Kasunmu buries dad with fanfare

An African proverb that says: “When a mighty tree falls, the whole earth shakes to its roots”. This aphorism best summed up what happened in Lagos on Thursday 20 June 2024 when, the late High Chief Adekunle Olaosebikan Kasunmu was committed to mother earth. The deceased, a successful civil engineer and businessman, was the father of Lagos State House of Assembly Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Adedamola Richard Kasunmu, fondly called ARK. Late Kasunmu died on 10 May, 2024, at the age of 77. His son, ARK, alongside his siblings —Oluwaseun, Omorinsola and Omosalewa— and other family members ensured their late patriarch was given a befitting funeral rite amidst pomp and panache.
The rites began Tuesday 18 June with a service of songs at St. John Anglican Church, Iju Ishaga, Lagos. It was followed by a well-attended wake at St Peter’s Church, Faji, Lagos on Wednesday. On Thursday morning, the final funeral service took place at St. Peter’s Church with the officiating priests led by the lead Vicar eulogizing the deceased —who held the titles of Amoye-Ilu of Lagos, Fiwagboye of Abuja and Akeweje of Egbaland— for his commitment to the service of God and his communities. After the service, the deceased’s remains were interred at the Ikoyi Cemetery. Guests, including Lagos top politicians and corporate titans, were later entertained at a reception held at The Bell Event Center on Campbell Street, Lagos Island. It was nothing short of a five-Star ceremony as top dignitaries were treated to ARK’s premium hospitality. Present were Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, Secretary to the Government of Lagos State; Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, represented by his Staff of Office and 10 White Cap Chiefs; the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa who was accompanied by 38 other members of the Lagos Assembly; former Commonwealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; Chairman, Lagos State All Progressives Congress, APC, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi; and ARK’s father-in-law, Hon. Matthew Omegara. Ace Compere, Gbenga Adeyinka 1st anchored the event while Saxophonist BeeJay Sax, Faith Band and Ajobiewe’s son entertained the guests with beautiful and soulful music.