‘He helped me in my trying times’ — tributes pour in for Lagos dep gov’s brother

Tributes are pouring in for Haroun Hamzat, brother of the  deputy governor of Lagos.

He would have been 37 by March 2021, but Haroun breathed his last on Wednesday, after a battle with COVID-19. 

He worked at a primary healthcare centre in one of the local councils — leading a lifestyle many of his friends described as “simple”.

Lekan, as he is fondly called by his friends, is described as a young professional who was brimming with ideas, while on a steady path of progress.  

The Hamzat family name is popular in political circles, and it is not surprising that the medical doctor, like his brother, is said to have also nursed an ambition to govern Lagos. 

Hamzat, who put up a post on his official Instagram handle, prayed for his late brother and advised Lagosians to take the COVID-19 guidelines seriously.

“Inna Lillahi wa inna ilahi raji’un. It is with utmost sadness that I announce the passing of my younger brother, Dr. Haroun Hamzat,” the post reads.

“May Almighty Allah forgive his sins, grant him eternal tranquility and Al-Janah Firdaus. Ameen.

“There is urgent need for us as a people to be conscious of the volatility of Covid-19. We should not only do this for ourselves, but for everyone we come in contact with. Stay safe, use your masks, sanitise or wash your hands regularly and maintain social distance.”

 

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A post shared by Official Dr Obafemi Hamzat (@drobafemihamzat)

“We had great plans. I was to furnish your ambition on being a future Lagos state governor and I the deputy,” Ayo Oshodi, who describes himself as Haroun’s friend of 21 years, wrote in a tribute on a page dedicated to his remembrance. 

“The deal was you manage the trouble makers and I deliver the road map and vision for a state we both love. Our endless debates on business ideas, entrepreneurship, wealth creation for Lagosian, damn… I can’t believe you are gone.”

“Brother, we have been best mates for over 21 years from our days as partners-in-crime during our A level studies through to being professionals, growing into responsible husbands and fathers. I was your best-man, you were my best-mate. We had many crazy dreams over the years. We had Christmas celebrations together in the UK with my family a few years ago. Can’t believe this is real.” 

Oshodi also described Haroun as a funny, charismatic and compassionate gentleman who was always at the service of anyone in need. 

“His main passions were his family, medicine, politics and entrepreneurship which we all knew he could spend countless hours chatting about,” he added. 

For Tope Agboola, Haroun lived “a life of positivity, happiness and showed how much you care for those around you”.

Some of his other friends wrote that he touched every life with his positivity and good words. 

Folashade, Haroun’s sister, says she is still finding it hard to believe her brother is no more. 

He was their mother’s happiness, Folashade said in a tribute on Facebook. 

“My dear brother, my mother’s happiness. I know how much you love me. I know all the plans you had for mum. You love her so much. The only man I truly love and care for. I will always love you. my one and only brother,” she wrote.

“I have lost hope in this life. It is worthless. You worshipped God yet he broke us like this… this hurt can never go away. I know u fought so hard, and I only blame God for letting this happen. You did my mother wrong. Her husband died, its not even 2 years, and now you took her joy. How could u not spare him???

“Is it a crime to be a doctor. After all the prayers and cries, all these years of stress to become someone in life. nothing matters anymore.. I love my brother. I will always love u.”

Born March 16, 1984, in Lagos, Haroun trained as a medical doctor in Nigeria, the United Kingdom and United States of America. 

For Babatunde Omomehin, Haroun helped him in his trying times.

“I met a young chubby young man in one of the science rooms of LASU, Ojo. He was wearing a Bugle boy top. I made fun of him because the timeline for that design was long gone (so I thought). We became close friends,” Omomehin wrote.

“Pleasantly controversial and eccentric, enjoys every detail of everything, introduced Ikeja to me, and helped me in my trying times. Haroun promised to bring me back to Lagos. There will be no one like you, Olalekan, a.k.a. Lion, Plums, Prime Zatto.”

He is survived by Bukola, his wife, and Olamilekan, his two-year-old son.