Tragedy struck on board a Lagos bound New York flight when 72-year-old highlife musician and guitarist, Alaba Pedro died while returning to Nigeria from a playing tour in the United States. He died two hours into a 12-hour flight from New York to Lagos.
According to agency report, the band had left Nigeria for the United States on a musical performance last Tuesday under the directorship of a Nigerian US-based promoter, Kunle Tejuosho.
Alaba
It quoted Fatai as saying upon landing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos that the late Pedro was discovered to have been very weak while they were leaving their hotel for the airport.
He said the airline crew got confirmation from the late musician that he could make the flight. But one hour into the flight, the late Pedro was said to have developed breathing problems and started panting for breath.
He said medical personnel on board made frantic efforts to save him. He said the late Pedro had been ill for some time but ignored warnings from him and other members of the band to watch his excessive consumption of alcohol throughout their stay in the US.
The journal reports that Sunday Pedro, the first and eldest son of the late musician, who came to the airport to receive his father, was shocked to hear of his death.
The bereaved son, who was short of words, described his father‘s death as ‘an act of God‘. He said the family members would be contacted on the burial arrangements.
On the possible impact of the sudden death of their band member on the band, Pa Fatai Rolling Dollars said it was ‘sad‘ and ‘unexpected‘.
He, however, assured that it would not lead to the disbandment of the band.
Before his death, Pedro was a member of the Faaji Agba musical group led by Fatai Rolling Dollars.
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