The sudden death of popular dancer, Kemi Omotoyinbo-Eloayi,
on October 1, 2014, after being in and out of labour for several days at
a private hospital in Lagos, remains a shocker to both family and
friends.
The beautiful lady, known to have danced for several popular
musicians such as Pasuma, KWAM1 and Shina Peters, was said to have
gotten married three weeks in Lagos to her husband, Godwin Eloayi.
Encomium mag. was able to speak to
the younger sister of the deceased, Seun Omotoyinbo, who cleared the
air on what really killed her sister.
How exactly did it happen?
On Saturday, September 13, 2014, my sister got married at White
House, Toyin Street Ikeja, Lagos. Then on Monday, September 22, she went
to the hospital for checkup where the doctor told her she needed bed
rest and was immediately admitted in the hospital till the day of
delivery. Before her wedding, the doctor had already informed her that
she would undergo surgery and she already paid N170,000 meant to cover
the hospital bills on Wednesday, October 1, 2014. My sister called me
and said she wanted to give me a surprise without knowing I was getting
two surprise packages from her. At about 8-9pm, our elder sister called
to inform me about the safe delivery of my sister. I requested to speak
to her but was told she was still in the theatre. I decided to go to the
hospital the next morning because I stay at Akoka and the General
Hospital Oreke where she was, is located at Boundry, Ajegunle, Lagos.
At 1am, I received a call from my elder sister saying, “Kemi just passed
away”, I became mad that moment and could not sleep till dawn.
Although, I did not believe my sister was gone until I got to the
hospital and saw her body.
What really was the cause of her death?
My sister never knew she had fibroid until she was almost due for
delivery when the doctors detected it, that was why the doctor decided
she would have a caesarian session because she would not have the
strength for natural birth. Before her body was released to us, the
hospital demanded a balance of N78,000 but one of the doctors told us
not to worry about such an amount that we should pay N42,000 instead.
And her husband paid immediately before her body was laid to rest at
Atan Cemetery, Lagos, on Thursday, October 2, 2014. Kemi still spoke to
her husband after the operation saying, “Honey, I made it” but did not
have the opportunity to carry her son because she was still weak.
However, my sister had fibroid which lead to internal bleeding and
unfortunately, she did not survive it.
Contrary to other reports that said your sister’s husband could not afford the medical bills, is it true?
My sister and her husband paid N170,000 for the medical bills before
their wedding three weeks ago and I saw the receipt. In fact, every
member of my family confirmed that the doctors were really nice to her
till the point of death, rubbishing all other reports from the media
that she was not properly taken care of. After her death, I went through
my sister’s BBM and text messages to find out if it was true that she
begged for money to pay medical bills but it proved abortive except for a
text message to one of her male friends whom she accused of not
attending her wedding and she said, “You won’t be at my baby’s naming
abi! Oya, send money to my account”, which I believe anyone can have
this
kind of conversation with any of her friends, especially when they are very close.
How is the baby coping without breast milk?
He is doing very fine. But without his mother’s breast milk, he
cannot be very strong. But the doctors recommended we feed him with SMA
Gold, which he is taking very well in replacement of the breast milk.
How is her husband taking the whole?
He was nearly mad. At the hospital that day, he tore his clothes and
even broke some glass windows. We had to calm him down and avoid further
damages. Even at the naming of his baby on Wednesday, October 8, he was
still very inconsolable; I have never seen a military man cry like
that.
Being the closest to her, what would you say were her unfulfilled dreams?
Some of her friends never believed Kemi could be pregnant again
because she lost a pregnancy many years ago, after she broke up with her
boyfriend. Then she got into another relationship for three years but
was unable to get pregnant until she met her husband last year September
and she was able to conceive again. Before she died, she would always
tell me even if her husband leaves her, she would be happy to take care
of her child alone. The only dream she had was, “to have a child of her
own” because she loved children.
How would you recount her last moment?
We were together at her house in Ajegunle, Lagos, a day after her
wedding. She wanted me to withdraw some money for her because I was with
her ATM card and her husband was not home but I refused because it was
too early for her to start spending money. Also, the night of her
wedding as she was about getting into the car, I started crying saying,
“I am going to miss you” till her mother in-law came and said, “is she
going forever?” My sister and I always stayed together all these years,
this sudden breakup is a shock to me.
What are the things you will never forget about her?
There is nothing I can forget about her because she was the best. She
was always there to bring you back whenever you are making a mistake.
She was a very kind and down to earth person. Even my mother said, “Who
will ever be like her?” We do loads of side talks together, especially
when there is a new face in the house.
How is your mom and other members of the family taking her death?
Our mother is out of this world but we thank God.
Tell us about her lifestyle?
She was a free minded person; she loved her family and friends very
much. She was God fearing and enjoyed cooking. We went out together and
she was the best thing that could happen to anybody.
What went through your mind when you heard she passed away?
I could not believe it. She used to tell me, if I want to go anywhere
I should always tell her. So what went through my mind was, “She was to
tell me she was passing away” because that period, I had lost my
memory.
How did the naming of the baby go?
We were told by the pastor not to cry and we tried to maintain that
till we could not hold it anymore. His names are Ikechukwu, Oluwafemi,
Oluwakemi, Funsho, Emmanuel Eloayi.