On Sunday, August 24, 2014, a middle-aged commercial bus driver, identified as Oluwagbeminija Rhodes lost his life as he drowned in Abeokuta while trying to save his son, Gbeminiyi from drowning in the Ogun river.
According to a report by Vanguard, the incident occurred when Rhodes, the pioneer chairman of the Moshood Abiola polytechnic, Abeokuta shuttle bus association went to clean his bus at the Lafenwa end of the river bank in company of his 8-year old son.
The toddler was said to have been playing at the river bank when he lost footing and fell into the water, prompting his father to dive into the river in an attempt to save him from drowning.
Vanguard reports:
An eye witness told our correspondent that the deceased could not rescue his son but drowned while the son was later rescued by some people living near the river bank.
The source said Gbeminiyi was rushed to the hospital where he regained consciousness.
His father’s floating corpse surfaced at Oriyanrin area, about three kilometres from the scene of the incident the following day and was recovered by fishermen contracted to search for it.
The current chairman, MAPOLY Shuttle Bus Association, Mr. Adedolapo Adekunle, Tuesday, August 26, 2014 said Rhodes’ corpse could not be recovered immediately because the river was full.
He said: “We heard about the incident on Sunday and we consulted the fishermen and other experts immediately but they told us that the river was full and that they had to wait for the body to float the third day or make attempt if there was sufficient sun on Monday, August 25, 2014.
“Luckily yesterday (Monday, August 25, 2014), it was sunny and his body was later recovered at Oriyanrin. We later paid for some rituals before his body was released.”
His remains were later interred at his yet to be completed building in Ikolaba community, Olomoore, in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of the state.
The deceased was described as a complete gentleman, humble and honest who led his association for nine years.
