Date: 2017-04-11

Tributes to Late Tonile Alalupupu Innalillahi wainnailayhi rajiun meaning that we are from Allah and to Him we shall return.

Every human being has a final bus stop as death is inevitable.

The final journey to the demise of Mallam Mohammed Sani Tonile Sanusi Alalupupu of Kuba Compound, Gegele, Ilorin began on Friday precisely on 24/3/2017 after the Jumaat service. Mallam Tonile Sanusi until his demise was a staff of Radio Kwara. On that faithful day while on active service, he suddenly slumped. It was like a joke, members of staff who were nearby applied first aid to revive the hardworking man but the situation was beyond their control and instantly, he was rushed to the Civil Service Hospital nearest to his place of work.

The Jumaat Service was the last congregation prayer which late Tonile observed. He never knew that was the last Jumaat Service he would participate on earth. He got to the hospital unconsciously and was eventually placed on drips before the oxygen device was attached to rescue the man.

The Doctor on duty and other medical workers at the civil service later referred him to the Ilorin General Hospital where he eventually gave up the ghost at about 3am on Wednesday (3/4/2017) after spending some days at the emergency ward.

The entire Radio Kwara was thrown into a mourning mood on hearing the tragic news of Tonile’s demise at the age of 63. The aged mother, wife, children and the entire family wept uncontrollably over the loss of their bread winner. No doubt, Tonile was the hope of his aged mother and his death really created a big vacuum in the family.

Tonile was good, humble and a progressive-minded individual. He derived happiness in people's joy and considerate at all times .He was diligent and brotherly and despite his meager take home pay , he belongs to everybody within the entire Radio Kwara.

Nobody has ever complained about him during his life time. He attended various assignments without complain. Definitely, his demise will be felt by all and sundry. The death of Tonile Sanusi was a big blow to everybody. All staff of Radio Kwara rallied round him while he was sick as well as members of his family. They contributed money, paid him visit at his hospital bed and offered him special prayers.

He joined the services of Radio Kwara on 24th/Sept/1979 as a cleaner and on the 1st of September, 1982, his services was converted to a laborer and eventually retired in 2014. Throughout his period in the employment of the Kwara State Broadcasting Corporation, Tonile has a very clean record of service. This no doubt, prompted the management of the broadcast station under the leadership of the General Manager , Alhaji Abdullateef Adebowale Adedeji to again engage his services as a contract staff and posted him man the gate along with some other staff.

Tonile can never be easily forgotten with his good conduct and competence. Friends of the Radio recognized him due to his dedication to duty and love for humanity.

Tonile has a small boy by name Kamaldeen and despite his little income, Tonile ensured that little Kamaldeen attends one of the best Nursery and Primary school in the GRA. Olumawu Nursery and primary school. Not too educated, but he (the Late Tonile) insisted that what he was not able to achieve, his little son would surpass him and achieve it in life: hence, he took the education of little Kamaldeen as topmost priority. After each academic session, Tonile would ask his son to show his result to a more educated staff and the boy's performance would be related to him. Fortunately for the Late Tonile, the little son is brilliant and sharp and he would broadcast the boy's result to everybody, who cares to listen. Little Kamaldeen is about six years old and ordinarily on resumption, after this academic session he would be joining his other classmates to begin Nursery three.

Man proposes but God disposes. Toniles plan for Kamaldeen has been shortened with his death. But again, God knows best.

With the death of Baba Tonile as some staff of Radio KWARA used to address him, does it mean that the education of the little brilliant son be halted ? To start with, Late Tonlle lived close to the Emirs' palace and the son is schooling at the GRA. Who then will takes that pain to do that strenuous job Tonlle does during his life time by transporting the son to school and back home? The wife, Madam Fatimah, the mother of little Kamaldeen works as an attendant at the Ilorin General Hospital. Definitely, she is a very low cadre staff to take over the role of late Tonile.

He might eventually end up in a public school. But alas, ending up in a public school does not mean he might not become a prominent citizen in this country if God has destined that he would be so. Most of those that are at the corridor of power today in Nigeria attended elementary schools at their various villages. Today, they are deciding our faith. So Kamaldeen's future, who lost his father before the age of six may not be an exceptional. Well, God knows best and knows how to take care of all situations.

When some people die no matter how highly placed or with their juicy positions, or their richness in the society, nobody cares about them because , while such people were even alive, they never touched the lives of others even their families or friends not to talk about the needy. Late Tonile was not a rich person, and did not even hold any juicy position during his life time, but still, his death was felt as if a prominent individual had passed on.

Definitely, it would be difficult to fill the gap or vacuum he has left behind not only to his immediate family but little Kamaldeen in particular and some of us that he took as part of his family.

Oh Tonile, your death came to us as a rude shock as we were so hopeful that you would get through the sickness. I will never forget Tonile .Again, Allah knows best as you did not die in vain as people have continued to speak well of you even in death. So continue to rest in peace. Ameen Ya Rabul Alameen. May Allah's blessings be upon Tonile and Allah SWT grant him Janatul Firdous. Ameen. The hopes of the hopeless be not in vain to raise and sustain the hopes of other hopeless on hopelessness.

Tunde Akanbi wrote this tribute on Tonile Sanusi Alalupupu from Ilorin