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Ethiopian Airline clash claims scholar’s life
By Tasie Theodore
A gale of tributes has continued to pour in Sunday night following the confirmation of the death of pan-African scholar, Professor Pius Adesanmi.
He died aboard an Ethiopian Airways plane crash that took place on Sunday morning on the Addis Ababa-Nairobi route while headed to Nairobi to participate in a summit of the African Union, AU.
Until his untimely death, Adesanmi was the Director of the Institute of African Studies, Carleton University, Canada.
A prodigious African scholar and pan-African advocate, he had been engaged with the Institute for French Research in Africa before heading out to the United States and North America.
In his own statement communicated via twitter, Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2019 polls, Atiku Abubakar, remarked:
Atiku AbubakarVerified account @atiku44m44 minutes ago
Professor Pius Adesanmi will be remembered for how he brought scholarship to progressive advocacy. His numerous followers on the social media will miss his insightful contribution towards a better Nigeria. I pray his soul will forever Rest In Peace.’
Another tweet expressing tribute was from the social media commentator, Tunji Lardner:’
Tunji Lardner @TunjiLardner14m14 minutes ago
#PiusAdesanmi Africa has lost a star. Shining with iridescent brilliance across many disciplines. Warm, compassionate & generous, giving of his mind, time & spirit. Nigeria has lost a TRUTH SAYER constantly aligning our broken moral compass. We have lost a friend & our muse. RIP’
As for his fellow writer and Caine Prize for African Writing winner, E.C Osondu, he wrote on Facebook:
‘ Pius Adesanmi and I in a bear-hug in Abeokuta. Just confirmed that he’s left us. Indeed as the Igbo say…Uwa bu aja… Pius was a rare being, ebullient, a razor-sharp mind. He was what the Yoruba call an Omoluabi yet when it came to polemics he could easily morph into a jaguda..after this picture we went on to scarf down pounded yam and egusi while also talking about keeping high cholesterol at bay…good night my brother..we both came a long way from Crowther Lane in UI to Penn State to Syracuse and Canada. Nigeria has lost one of those who loved her most. ‘
Professor Adesanmi would be sorely missed by all, including The Difference family.
May his soul rest in Peace. Amen.
Prof. Pius Adesanmi
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