The location was the Millennium Estate,
Oko-Oba, Agege, Lagos residence of
deceased highlife singer, Fatai Olagunju,
otherwise called Rolling Dollar. His two
wives, Zainab and Serifat, some of his
children including Sikiru-who is the
singer's 50-year-old first son, wore a
pensive mood as our correspondent
walked into their home.
It was evident from their faces that they
were yet to come to terms with the
reality of the death of the 86-year-old
songbird, Rolling Dollar, who breathed
his last on June 12, coinciding with the
20th anniversary of the acclaimed
"fairest and freest" election in Nigeria.
The musician shot to stardom a few
years back via a successful album, Won
Kere si Number Wa. But despite his
fame, the family is worried about the
education of his younger children.
One of the children, Jamiu, told our
correspondent that he was still
saddened by the death of his father,
expressing uncertainty over his future.
He explained that he and his other
siblings would miss their father's pieces
of advice.
The young Olagunju regretted that his
late father was unable to fulfil the
promise he made to him concerning his
education.
Jamiu stated, "Anytime he was around,
he used to advise us on things we
should do and the ones we should
avoid. He promised me that he would
make sure I studied up to university
level. It is unfortunate that when my
father was making the promise, he did
not know that he would die this year."
He added that when the news of his
father's death was broken to him, the
first thing he remembered was the
promise he made to him, regarding his
university education.
"When I was told about his death, I
remembered what he promised me. I
also thought about my education. It is
my desire to be a singer like my father
but I want to go to school first. To
honour my father, I will take to music
someday. He became popular as a
highlife singer but I want to be a hip-
hop artiste," he added.
Rolling Dollar might have arrived on the
big stage late in life but his works were
recognised by highlife lovers, music
buffs and fellow musicians. After his
death, President Goodluck Jonathan was
one of many notable individuals who
praised the good work of the late singer.
Zainab, who had just finished saying her
prayers, told SUNDAY PUNCH that she
was yet to believe that her husband had
left her forever. She recalled that she
married the musician after her first
marriage failed, adding that Rolling
Dollar was yet to hit the stardom when
he married her.
She said, "I was staying with an aunt at
Olorunsogo, Mushin area of Lagos about
13 years ago when I met him. I used to
see him pass by but I did not know that
he had interest in me. I was a bit sick
when he called me on a Sunday. He
jokingly asked me if I would not mind
preparing Ramadan food for him
because it was the fasting period. He
later noticed some patches at both
corners of my mouth, indicating that I
had been sick. I told him I had used
some drugs but he insisted on buying
some more for me."
Zainab said the musician did not even
stop at that. According to her, he also
prepared rice and asked one of his
children to take some to her house.
She added, "I later learnt that the year
he met me was exactly three years after
the death of his wife, who left three
children behind. We got married in 2001
and I promised to take care of the
children for him. His caring and honest
nature drew me to him."
She further stated that the family was
apprehensive of how to cater for the
children of the late artiste, who she said,
did not leave anything behind. Zainab
appealed to his fans to stand by them at
their moment of grief.
Rolling Dollar's younger wife, Serifat,
who said she bore a boy and a girl for
the deceased singer, also reiterated that
their husband did not leave any money
to train their children.
When the highlife maestro was alive,
Serifat said he cared so much for the
children and would do anything to make
them happy. But his death seemed to
have caught her and the rest of the
family unawares.
"Our husband did not leave any money.
We hope his fans and government will
stand by us. The major challenge we are
facing right now is how to ensure that
our children continue their education. I
am a businesswoman and I only survive
on the little profit I make," she stated.
Rolling Dollar's eldest child, Sikiru, who
said he left the Nigerian Educational and
Development Council in 1996, told
SUNDAY PUNCH that he left his father at
seven.
He stated that he was unhappy because
of the inability to see his father before
he died, adding that he was also sick
when he was informed about his ill-
health.
Sikiru said, "My father is one man that I
like so much. I live at Ikenne in Ogun
State. I was so sad when I was told that
he was ill because I was also indisposed
at the time. I thought that his sickness
was not something serious because he
was a strong man until I was told of the
urgent need to see him. Apart from my
sickness, I was also broke but I pleaded
that those around him, especially his
wives, should take good care of him.
Immediately I was strong enough to
move around, I set out for Lagos to see
him but it was unfortunate that he died
before I could reach him. I was on the
road when I received the call about his
death."
Sikiru however eulogised his father's
virtues, saying he was happy that God
gave the family a wonderful father who
never maltreated his children
"My father taught us never to
misbehave, steal or look down on
anybody. These are some of the virtues I
imbibed from him and I am happy to say
that the lessons are of great value to me.
They have assisted my journey in life."
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