‘How Rashidi Yekini’s death turned me to bread seller’

This is a story of a 80-year-old woman, Alhaja Shidikat Yekini, who lost two children in three years. This is the bitter experience of the mother of the late African Footballer of the year, Rashidi Yekini, who was born on October 23, 1963 in Kaduna but died on May 4, 2012 in Ibadan.

The over 80-year-old woman recounted how difficult it was to lose another daughter, Rofia, a mother of five who died in a fatal auto crash on her way to Ibadan to check on his late brother's daughter.

The woman now sells bread but she explains that despite the rent charges she collects from his late son's estate; she still finds it difficult to take care of herself and five children of Rashidi's younger sister.

She reveals further that her condition led her to resort to begging to feed herself. At the beginning of this interaction, the octogenarian broke down in tears four about two minutes before she was consoled.

Reacting to rumour making the round that family members are fighting over Yekini's property, she said his son (Rashidi) had settled all the members of the family before he died; meaning that none of his blood relation had the audacity and the impetus to fight over his property because he had willed everything to his two daughters before he died. The mother of five also confirmed the story that the late footballer burnt his property and withdrew money from his bank account and shared it with some of the Hausa beggars in Sabo area of Ibadan, Oyo State, before his demise.

In a visit to her house in Ijagbo, Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State by Head of Sports, National Pilot TOYIN SAHEED, she reveals how life has treated her after Yekini's departure and other sundry issues. Excerpts:

"There is no hope again after losing Rashidi and his sister, Rofia, (Iya Bide). Rofia had an accident on her way to Osogbo to visit Yekini's daughter in school and died immediately.

"I am the one taking care of Rofia's five children and they are young children. Rashidi bought this particular house for me through his friend, Yahaya and they have claimed its ownership, which I refused to agree with them.

"My son wanted to buy motor for me but I refused; he even said he will send me to the holy land (Mecca) I told him I wanted a house, so he bought this house in my name and took the receipt to Ibadan because he didn’t want anybody to claim it from me. Later he had problem burning his property, and withdrew his money and burnt it, no one came to inform us.

"Rashidi had told me that no one should come to his house in Ibadan because is met for his children but he had settled his other blood relations, including me with this house in Ijagbo; so I don't go there until when I learnt he had problem.

"When his situation became critical, I and his late sister went to meet Elerin of Erinle, Oba Abdulganiyu Ajibola Olusokun II and we took him to where we believed he could get better treatment but unfortunately, he couldn't survive it. All this period, I didn't see any lawyer and nobody came to give me money expects the one we received from Osun State Government.

"I only knew my son's first lawyer because he used to send him to me when he was playing oversea but this new lawyer (Jubril Olanrewaju) I don't know him. It's the same lawyer (Jubril) who was with my son when he went to bank to withdraw his money and begin to share it people, then he didn't inform any of the family member and now he is claiming that we are fighting over his property.

"The only money I received was the money Osun State Government brought to me and they gave the children their own share and Onira of Ira helped me to save my share in the bank. No other state or Federal Government gave the family money. I don't even see anything bad if I am still collecting Rashidi's money with what my son had done for this country. Rashidi loved this country so much and anytime he played for Nigeria, I was always on my fit praying for the country too.

"The government should come and take care of me because I am Yekini's mother and I deserve it. A man once drove me from Sokoto to Offa when he knew I am Rashidi’s mummy”.

"Bidemi was Yekini's first born before he had another one from the woman he married in abroad. The last child he had, he didn't accept him and all efforts to confuse him proved abortive. There was a day I went to Ibadan with the girl, he refused to open the door for me because he told me if he married the girl, he will die; so I decided to accept the girl, so she gave birth, I name him Ayodeji.

"I have told the lawyer that the house is talking about in Coca Cola Road is mine so he shouldn't come and disturb me again and since then I have not heard anything from him. My son had shared his property before he died so if the lawyer is now saying that the family is fighting over his property; he doesn't know what is talking about".

“My son didn't die, he always appeared to me in my dream, Rashidi and her sister do come and visit, he is still playing his football and is doing fine where he is", she revealed.