Why can’t we just learn to let the dead be?

I AM RASHIDI YEKINI

Rather than just mourn the passing of our once upon a time A-lister celebrities; remembering them as they were in their heydays etc; it’s become common place these days for the media to go to town with all sorts of attention grabbing headlines of negative stories of how so and so celebrity was living in abject poverty prior to his death or how he had been neglected by friends at the time of need.

It irks me that the Press fail to understand that such garbage as they spew is actually an indictment on them. C’mon if they can carry such stories following the passing of such a person, would it have been so difficult for them to go through the archives of Nigerian Celebrity list and investigate the whereabouts of anyone who has been hitherto silent or living below the radar; who knows they may succeed in saving a Soul or two.

It’s my POV that their silly stories rather than evoke empathy only succeeds in rubbishing the memories of the deceased and robbing the family of the opportunity to grieve privately.

Why would the last days of Rashidi Yekini become fodder for News?

Of what use will the ongoing expose concerning his mental health in his last days be to any one?

“Celebritism” in my opinion is transient, no one is born a celebrity and there is no hard and fast rule that a Celebrity should die as one. What is most important is that remarkable thing you would be remembered for.

All I know is that in chronicling the history of Nigerian Football, Rashidi Yekini’s place will not be in contention. No one can take away his “Moment of Glory”; no silly stories can blur that Moment when a loud roar shook the foundations of this Nation following his epoch making GOAL at the ’94 World Cup; our first Goal at our first ever World Cup Finals. Who can forget that Iconic image of him clutching the back of the net and screaming? That was his moment and no sordid story can take it away.

Sun Re O!

Rest in Peace Rashidi Yekini...You made good when it counted.

And for those of us, who are still on the field of play; let’s do our best to ensure that when the referee blows the final whistle to signal the end of the game, we would have had our ‘Yekini Moment’

Stay Rooted

OSA