I am really short of words. Continue to rest in the bossom of the Lord till we meet to part no more.
It's painful but God knows best

Hnmmmmmmmm!!! you reminded me of what I deliberately pretend not to revisit because of the pains and agony of the lost of a brother, too darling to forget. Bro Laolu though you are gone but you are alive, because your work and good work speaks , how can my family forget your counsel? My children still find it difficult to believe that Big daddy have gone to rest. I am glad that you left a good legacy behind, at times it's not how far but how well. Egbon laolu, Omo arapate je owa ojo Kan o di oru si Igbo ose, esu SE Omo elomiran kewa je owa osangangan, Omo eye Kan ke fo Kiri lugbo ose, hi kadan luere, I kodide ni memo ooooo. Adieu victor olaoluwa ibironke ajiyosola. Till we meet to part no more.
Two years in mind

Happy posthumous birthday bros solo. May your soul continue to rest in peace. Our heavenly Father is watching over all that you left behind and His faithfulness is being shown to your seeds. Till we meet at the resurrection morning, continue to sleep well.

Egbon mi, i still find it difficult to accept the reality of your exit, each time your memory keeps coming, you never prepare me for this your untimely departure, but my consolation is that you lived well and impacted so much in others. your memory will continue to be evergreen as i remain on this planet. Adieu Olaoluwa omo Arapate jowa ojo kan o di oru si igbo ose. sun ree oooo

Posthumous birthday to a loving father. We will continue to celebrate you in our hearts for ever daddy. We missed you sir.

Bro Laolu, you left too soon. May the Lord comfort and abide with your lovely wife and amazing children.
A o pade leto odo, tese angeli ti te, tomo gara bi Krsitali. Odo didan, odo didan.

We grew up together as one happy family and we had so many things doing together. I remember our time at awoyokun street, onipanu with nostalgia. The news of your departure was too much for me to bear, but I rest in the hope that we will see again with joy unending on the other side.

Sleep well my beloved brother, fare there well.

I pray that God strengthen your wife and children.

So long

Bros Solo,
O ga o......my story on this land isn't complete without adding your name to it. I was still making plans in my head two days before your passing, that I'll give you a surprise visit soon. The news left me shattered because you were on my mind 2 days before. When l heard the news, it was then that I was able to connect the dots that you were on your way home when your thoughts occupied my heart.
I am still short of words and I didn't know the depth of the impact that your passing made on me, until I responded angrily to someone who was talking about covid in a very insensitive manner. I believe He knows it all since He determines the end from the beginning. God will comfort the family you left behind. Olorun ko ni şe ni akufa o.
Sleep on Bros Solo till we meet at the resurrection morning.

Letter to a dear friend, a good brother, devoted family man, and a relative from Ifofin, Ilesa.

Just a few years back, you condoled with me on the loss of my brother, Suny Jay Awodiya. You knew him, but your brother, Rankar, knew him better—he broke the news of his passing to you.
Couldn’t forget the help your brother rendered to me when I went to Ilesa in 2018 to bury Suny Jay. He went with me everywhere and he was my ‘man on the ground’ who made things happen. As a member of the Ifofin Methodist Church Choir and a leader in many associations in the church, he introduced me to the Pastor and influenced him to schedule the burial service and to reserve a plot in the church cemetery for Suny’s burial.

Brother Solomon, you grieved with me, just as your brother grieved with me on the great loss.

Then, just a year ago, your brother, my ‘man on the ground’ in Ilesa, Rankar, took ill. And it was unto death! We both mourned the loss of a brother and, once in a while you would tell me that you thought it was just a dream—that was how it was hard to believe that the two friends, brought together by destiny, would suffer death in quick succession!

As Christians, Brother Solomon, you and I used Bible injunctions to sooth our sorrows and intractable pain. Ecclesiastes was our soothing balm—our analgesic.

Those were two good friends, who enjoyed each other’s company, bolstered by their boisterous banters and love of intoxicants, which masked their inescapable grind in the sleepy hilly town of Ilesa -- our hometown.
Brother Solomon—as I used to call you—and you would answer -- Brother o o o. Why have you gone to join them so soon?

It was about twelve years ago that we met in church here in Middletown. That was after about 40 years of our separation in Ifofin. Our bonding was quick, because you knew my father, whom you called Baba Manager. You and your family were members of the our family church, the Ifofin Methodist, where my late father was the Baba ijo (Father of the church). Your family house is just a stone throw from the Awodiya family compound. You knew my brothers and sisters and many of our common neighbors in Ifofin. You helped me to reconnect with family members I had lost contact with because we moved to my father’s house in 1964—that was way, way back, so I had lost contact with most of them.

Brother Solomon, you gave me the opportunity to get to know you as a free spirit, a man determined to live life -- a life all devoted to your wife and children and other extended family members. We used to talk about our families. And every time we would in orchestrated declaration reaffirm our hope and assurances that our children, without doubt, would eat the good of this land.

Brother Solomon, you rekindled in me the Ilesa spirit as we frequently, fluently bantered in original Ijesa. You used to laugh heartily at my unadulterated Ijesa verbalization, punctuated with childhood escapades and lighthearted jibes, which provided nostalgic escapes, back to the way we were. You wondered how masterly I could express myself in original Ijesa, given that I left the town long ago. Remember my usual answer was: Ulesa ni han ti bi mi, me ra le gbagbe Ule!

Brother Solomon, you showed and proved to all that, this world is not a bed of roses. You displayed uncommon discipline and you transformed your love for your family into the necessity of hard work, so you might provide for them. You had apparent reward for your labor, because you witnessed the incubation and birth of the marvelous gifts of your offspring to this world. But what about the long-awaited reward? Covid-19 was certainly not in our calculations.

By the grace of God, your first child, Toyin, is a medical doctor; your second child, Deeko, is an attorney and; Tosin is a May graduate. The Lord God will satisfy your wife and children with long life and prosperity.

Brother Solomon, please help me ask God, what happened to the dream of growing old and the promise of life abundant-- life till the children would be on their own with their families; and life when we would have to downsize to a two- bedroom apartment to enjoy the fruits of our labor in the ambiance of the love of God and the grace that longevity bestows. Did we not pray long and fervent enough? Yes, we prayed and God answered, but in His own way. Though bewildering to mere mortals, it is quite apropos to the maker, whose control and use of time is unfathomable and such we cannot litigate. He has exercised His sovereignty, which is not actionable.

Brother Solomon, do you remember that whenever we faced seemingly intractable problems, I would remind you of my recurring quote that: Weeping may last for a night, but joy cometh in the morning?

So this is still the night and what I feel now is not joy, but despair. I am lost in entangled thoughts about the meaning of life. Your passing has imposed on me the duty to daily examine myself and question God, why the good die young and, why the laborers in the vine yard get paid the same wage for a day or half a day or even for a few hours of labor. Oh, I remember when I used to refer you to Ecclesiastes 3, but the injunctions therein escape me now!

Just this morning, lost in my forlorn, melancholic, despondent thoughts, God gave me answers to my questions. He said he called you home for a reason, which I cannot understand, yet. He said I will see you again on the day of resurrection and admonished me to always praise Him in whichever way he adjudicates His sovereignty, because in the by and by, all will be well. And, finally, He asked if I knew why he gave man eyes in the front his head and hindsight only in his thoughts? He proclaimed hope is in the future and only eyes gazed ahead can see it. Hindsight on the other hand, was once a hope, but now in the rearview mirror. Then He reminded me of Jeremiah 29:11. (For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future). I rest my case.

So, Brother Solomon, I thank God for your life and for the imprint of your DNA on planet earth. Your wife and your children are your heritage and those of the Lord. Though you sleep, yet you are awake and doing great things on this side of eternity through them. Though we shall miss you, but your life will continually speak to us of the goodness of the Lord to you and your family.

Awe o, o kare o. Sunre o. Obokun a gbeo o, Oluwa a da hin omore ati yawo re si o. Od’o jo Ajinde o.

Your friend and brother,
Prof. Wale Awodiya

With heaviness of heart, tears rolling down my cheeks I say bye bye to my lovely uncle, Ajiyosola Ibironke Olaoluwa. You were a Loving uncle, an epitome of boldness and eloquence. I want to thank God for your life, though short but full of inspiration. You have fought a good fight of faith and won. I convinced that you have won. We will forever missed you Sleep on my dearly uncle.

You were a wonderful friend and brother in law. Your charm and charisma and love will be greatly missed.
Laolu was a family man that brought everyone together in love. I remember how we fondly call you Laolu “Ijin-le Pam-Pam” in baba Showunmi “s house in Ijeshatedo Lagos.
May your memories remain blessed for many generations.
Lord of Host will comfort your wife, your children and the entire family of Ibironke and Sowunmi in Jesus name.
Rest in peace Olaoluwa.

Love from Bola and Tolu Ogunleye

Am still in that shock, still like am still dreaming, my friend, my twin brother from another mother, you have left a vacuum of a lovely relationship, but i give God the glory for your Godly kind of life you live , laolu as i fondly called you we shall meet in the Resurrection morning at the feet of Christ but till then, rest peacefully in the bossom of Jesus. We the Aladeobas will miss you my wonderful ever jovial, humorous and prayerful, Good night Olaolu Ajiyosola ibironke Solomon. I pray to God to comfort the family you left behind and sustained them in Jesus name.

Still find it difficult to believe you have gone too soon.
But I know that those we love don't go away.
They walk beside us every day
Unseen, unheard
But always near, still missed every day.
Sleep and rest in the bosom of the Lord
My esteemed, lovely and peaceful in law and brother Olaoluwa IBironke Ajiyosola Solomon.
We love you but God Love you more.
Look back at your wife and children.
May God comfort and console them and all the family.
We love you but God Love you more
Sun re o. RIP.

See you on Resurrection Morning.
May the Lord continually comfort and uphold everyone you left behind.
Blessings

Victor Tolu Ojewunmi

Bro Laolu you left us so soon.
You are more than an in-law.
You are beautiful in and out.
I know you are in a better place where there is no pain.
May your gentle soul rest in perfect peace of your maker.

From: Itunu Abimbola Ojewunmi.

TRIBUTE TO A BEACON OF LOVE AND POSITIVITY.

Daddy Toyin as we used to call you, you lived a fulfilled life which is not based on your age attainment or on the riches and wealth you acquired for yourself when you were here on earth, but based on the number of people's lives you were capable of adding positive values to. Your life was a life well spent in doing good to all and sundry without reservation.
(John Bonney said in one of his published books; Someone's greatness in life is not based on the riches or properties or wealth he has acquired to himself, neither is it based in terms of position he occupies but it is measured in the lives of people he is capable of touching positively so as to add progressive value on them.)
Daddy Toyin, a great man of valor and silent giver. You came, you saw and you conquered. We shall always be grateful to God on your behalf for adding meaningful value into the life of our family.
May your gentle soul rest in perfect peace.

Ven and Mrs Yemi Adegoye.

A very true friend. May the God we serve be the comforter to your family. May He continue to be their resource and hold them during this difficult time. Take flight my friend and rest in perfect peace.

Your exit was so shocking uncle. Olaolu,
May your gentle soul rest well,

still unbelievable one of my favorite nurses at hillside and favorite person to work with! you will be missed♥️ Praying for your family. May you rest in paradise sal!

wow word can't express how deeply i'm sorry. You were such a nice person to work with. I called you daddy, cause you accepted me as a daughter when i moved to Delaware and we connected at the job. may your soul rest in peace.

A jiyosola Solomon, a brother like none, he is an achiever by all standard, a good example, a reference point any day, I will forever remember him and thank God for the privilege to carry same gene with him, he made so many contribution to whatever I am today, he motivates me, he encouraged me, he loved me, he extended the love to my family, he assisted me, I am very proud of him any day. Rest on my dear brother, omo arapate je owa ojo kan, o di oru sigbo ose, esu se omo elomiran kowa jowa osangangan. Olaoluwa omo ibironke.. Ajiyo o darinako o tun doju ala