Epe stood still in grief as wails, muffled sobs and silent tears filled the open field of Epe Grammar School Estate, where family, friends and colleagues gathered under a heavy sky to mourn the sudden passing of Alhaji Olatunde Rafiu Quadri, fondly called “Gbayi,” a name that had become his signature response to greetings and a symbol of his warmth.
His death, at just 53, has left a deep scar on the Kadri family of Epe Local Government and a vacuum in the hearts of many who knew him as a son, brother, husband, father, colleague, confidant and cultural custodian.
The late Alhaji Quadri, elder brother to former Vice Chairman of Epe Local Government, Hon. Engr. Kenny Kadri-Edu, passed on in the early hours of Monday, December 15, 2025. His burial, conducted according to Islamic rites, marked the beginning of days of raw emotions, unanswered questions and a community struggling to come to terms with a life cut short.
At the three-day Fidau prayer organised for the repose of his soul, clerics from various Islamic societies offered fervent supplications, their voices rising and falling in unison as mourners clutched tissues, stared into space or quietly whispered prayers of their own. Yet, beyond the ritual, the pain was palpable, especially around his grieving wife and four young children, whose tear-streaked faces told a story words could not fully capture.
Until his death, Alhaji Quadri served as the Head of Department, Education and Library Services, Ikoyi-Obalende LCDA. Representing the Executive Chairman of the council, Hon. Bola Oladunjoye, the Vice Chairman extended heartfelt condolences to the family, with special words for the deceased’s aged mother, widow and children.
Colleagues from Ikoyi-Obalende LCDA, Eredo LCDA, Epe Local Government, Ibeju-Lekki Local Government and other councils trooped in quietly, many still stunned by the suddenness of his departure.
Reliving the last moments and shared memories, Engr. Kenny Kadri-Edu broke down as she described her brother not just as family, but as her backbone. “This is a deep sorrow,” she said, her voice trembling. “We started life and service together. He never left me alone. He supported me in my career, in politics, even in my hotel business. Just days ago, he called to tell me he had found a worker for me. I never imagined this is how I would lose my brother.”
She recounted how he attended a family funeral on Sunday, laughed, played and gave out money as usual, only for the family to discover him lifeless on his bed the following morning. “I still insisted they take him to the hospital,” she added. “I was hoping for a miracle.”
Close friend and confidant of 32 years, Comrade Shina Akintolure, described the loss as shattering. “Whenever you greeted him, he would say ‘Gbayi’. Now that voice is gone. I have lost a great friend.”
Another mourner and colleague, Mrs. Ramat Abaniwonda, struggled to speak through tears. “We spoke very well on Sunday. I didn’t know that would be our last conversation.”
As the leading clerics led prayers, one truth echoed through the gathering: Gbayi may be gone, but the silence he left behind is louder than words, a silence filled with sorrow, love and memories that will linger for years to come.
