DARE BEST: THE WONDERFUL EXISTENCE OF A MAN WHOSE LIFE ENDS ABRUPTLY...

#OLORIOKO #DARE #BEST #ALABI: Sunset 🌅 at Noon 🕛🌛 💔💘

To live in the hearts of those we love is not to die.

Oludare Best ọmọ Àlàbí, "Mr. Ó-pálápá-tirá tó tún trẹngẹ-yéyè. Ojúlówó ẹja ńlá  tó ń jẹ́ barracuda.

Bàbá onírugbọ̀n funfun Mr. White Lion.

Bàbá tó jayé jù Mr. JYJ.

Onígara of Ìgara. Bàbá ibẹ̀ ọkọ màmá ibẹ̀....... ."

I'd give anything to hear this intro from you once more.

Monday 18th May you signed off without a good-bye. My head went blank that evening when I heard the news; my initial reaction was disbelief, second was denial then shock(I pray I recover from that). 30 years lóníí mi ò ro ikú rò ẹ́ Dare. Í took your being here for granted. I thought you'll always be a phone call away.

Death is not novel but yours is eerie and tragic, my subconscious rejected it.

I rannnnnnn from everybody and everything; I shut out the world. Because Facebook was full of the news: I ran from here too. Deactivated my Facebook account. Seeing your face everywhere was torment. RIP was never what I pray for you.

I could only talk to family (got them worried though) and few friends. I slipped in and out of consciousness like one under anaesthesia, for days I was in a daze, struggled to wake up from the dream: alas it was no dream! I asked questions but no answers were forthcoming. I wanted it to be that you went on a short trip and would soon be back. Unfortunately, it was not so. Indeed, you're gone forever(though my heart has refused to accept), the reality hit me like a brick to the forehead: Then the tears came in torrents both day and night, sleep eluded me, my heart shattered to pieces, the headaches were out of this world. Analgesics and sleeping tabs were mere chalk in my mouth. Dare mo pè ẹ́ nígbà igba óò jẹ́ mi ò because God decided to take you home!

Days found me helpless and completely crushed. My body would shiver and vibrate not from cold, I couldn't wrap my head round the thought of not seeing you again; I was a complete mess. I was losing it. Then I knew I had to heal and I needed to get some closure. I reached into the deepest part of me for strength.

One week, now I have found the courage to return to Facebook because mourning till eternity won't bring you back.

From the day we met 8 years ago, you were #Dare to me, the world called you "#Best".......

Dare, I choose to remember and celebrate the man you were to me.

You are not in the past and I will not write of you in past tense.

'I see your calm composed figure sauntered into the studio on Monday nights to present your show, that ever-present stride of confidence.

I see you with all your tailored to fit clothes. Always neatly and impeccably dressed, Oò rin ìdọ̀tí rí.

I see the way you leave the studio door ajar sometimes, just to annoy me. 🤪🤣.

I see your face the way you tilt your lips to one side when you smile and it reaches your eyes.

I see your white beard and how I used to tease you that you were going grey as you approach 50 and you'll say it's white! 😀🤪

I see your trademark glasses hung on your neck always.

I see you crossing your legs when you strike a relaxed sitting position.

I see you on the studio seat when you're on MIC dancing to your favourite artistes' songs on air.

I see you raise your hands up close your eyes when music enters bodi. 🙌🤪.

I see how I frown at the use of your headcam covering both ears and how I often persuade you to lift one side up, so we can communicate in the studio when not making eye contact.

I see you coming into the studio, hugging me and holding my head to your chest. Some nights, when I'm detached and don't want to hug you, you sneak up and hug me from behind forcefully turning me to face you.

I see your protégés(our resident referees 🤪🙄)saying Aunty Bimbola, ẹ má dá Best lóhùn ṣèbí you guys are best of friends; whenever we had our altercations in the studio and that's like a zillion times and more!😭😭(I'm gonna miss that most). Me stubborn you '#stubborner' 😁😂.  You enjoy getting on my last nerves, as much as I enjoy getting on yours, and afterwards, we make up. Disagreement was second nature to us, seems that was our own unique style of showing we cared(yuk)🤣🤣; no public display of affection with us: We could wrangle for Africa! 😃😀.

I see you now calling Ajokeeeeee in that special way of yours! And I'm laughing😄😃.

I see and remember those phone calls of hours unend, you finish your call credit, I finish mine, sometimes we'll switch to WhatsApp call or chat and I begin to harass you to replace my call credit. Oh Boy, can we do Aproko! 🤪😝

I see your struggles to make ends meet, how you never wanted to be a liability. And to always live up to your numerous responsibilities..........'

Few things I can say here about you, 90% is best left in my head; unsaid and cherished memories of you in my heart, mine alone forever.

Ikú ló mú mi mọ iyì ẹ #Dare.

Thank you for the part of you we shared.

Thank you for gifting me a son in Soji, I'm grateful you know how I feel about him; and I promise you that's never going to stop or change God helping me.

Your Mum is a very strong woman, speaking with her Wednesday evening after your burial was therapeutic. That conversation with her and your elder sister gave me some kind of closure.

Your children will live to old age and your dreams for them will be.

If only you can see how the world reacted to the news of your demise Dare, you'll dance into heaven. 💃💃💃💃

2020, you have taken and taken so much..... Please be kind from now.....🙏🙏🙏

Seye Ara, thanks for constantly checking to know I'm ok, even when I didn't want to talk to no-one or when I needed to simply pour it all out. You were there.

Omorodion Christiana Oghogho,

Toyin Arifayan thanks for understanding my need to grieve.

Apostle Akibu Olamiji Samuel(Kentucky), I value the calls, those prayers on Friday worked wonders.

Sam Miracle(Dallas) thanks for calling and for those kind words.

Mr. Bukola Siyanbola(Sybuk)--I appreciate the calls and you defying all odds to visit.

Mr. Taiwo Olayiwola(of Taiwo & Kenny Jones) God bless you, Sir.

Pastor David Agboola, thank you.

Indeed 'kìí burú kó má ku ẹnìkan.....'

Journey thee well:

My brother.

My friend.

Mon amour.

"🎵🎺🎹 'Ó dàgbàrááááá...... Ó dàgbàrá ooooooo...... Ó dàgbàrá òjò, #Oludare dàgbàrá òjò, kò ya'lé mọ́......🎻🎤🎷🥁"

On a good-bye note for the  first time, I'm the one saying "Ó -pálápá-tirá" on this side instead of you. I see you smiling on that side, responding (instead of your listeners), "Ó-trẹngẹ-yéyè for the last time"! And signing off for you as was your tradition every Monday night, with, "Áá-ṣoríire o"!

💝💛💌💖💚💗💜💟💕💞🖤💓❣️🧡💯

Abimbola Otusanya, broadcaster, writes from Lagos