Pitstop Community, a cycling group on Sunday held a criterium in honour of a departed member, Dr Olaolu Mudashiru, who passed on two years ago.
Late Mudashiru, who was a medical doctor, the co-founder of Vetiva Capital Management, and a son of the former military governor of Lagos State, Gbolahan Mudashiru, was killed by a hit-and-run driver while cycling in Lagos.
Fondly called Dr Bob, the community members recalled that he was a disciplined man, with uncanny enthusiasm for cycling and philanthropy.
Speaking about his memory, one of his friends, Mr Emafo Ebiaho, a recreational cyclist and a cycling partner of the deceased, who described the deceased as a dedicated cyclist, noted that he had moved away from the sport since Dr Bob’s passing, but plans to return someday.
Ebiaho, therefore, expressed disaffection with the way the case is being handled by the government, holding that the perpetrators should have been identified long before now.
He added: “In terms of cycling, he was able to encourage a lot of people to come into cycling. And some of the people he encouraged to cycle have dropped out of cycling because he’s not around. Some have pulled back because of the risk factor related to cycling as a result of his death. So in summary, he’s generally missed in the cycling community.”
The founding trustee of the Pitstop Cycling Foundation, Aminadab Allen Adegboro, explained that the criterium, which is the last for the year, was held in honour of Dr Bob, whom she described as a key member of the Pitstop community.
According to her, “Dr Bob was one of the Patrons of the Pitstop Community and he was very dedicated to cycling. He picked up cycling, fell in love with it, and was extremely disciplined. He died on the 11th of December, 2022, whilst riding to Pitstop Lagos for our community ride; as we usually ride on Saturdays and Sundays, So, it’s a no-brainer for us to dedicate our end-of-year criterium, which is the grand finale of our races in the year, to Dr Bob by naming it Dr Bob Memorial Criterium. He was a lover of the sport and a key member of our community.
Meanwhile, Bright Emmanuel, a cyclist, who was also knocked down by the driver, but survived, expressed delight in participating in the memorial criterium, as he was fondly referred to as a son to Dr Bob.
“I stayed over two months not riding a bike, and then I came back riding in February, after the incident. Bob taught me that, no matter what, life continues, and once you are alive, you should be grateful and also try to keep pushing whatever you’re doing. And racing for him also is a thing of honour. I’m happy to race for him, and I’m happy to do my best so far because that was his wish for each and every cyclist,” he said.
Emmanuel, who decried the inability of the police to identify and bring to book the driver, said, “For two years now, there is no trace of the hit-and-run driver. Maybe a little information about what has happened would have helped. He was the son of a former governor of Lagos State. I urge whoever is interested to let justice take its place.”
Preye John Dede, who emerged first in the race got a prize of N2,000,000; Zakariyau Faruq, who came second got N1,500,000; Azeez Akande, who was third, got N1,200,000; Deinabobo Johnbull, fourth, got N1,000,000; Odebiyi Azeez received N800,000 for emerging fifth; the sixth to 10th positions including Ibrahim Abidemi, Sosepriala Aggo, Bassey Ntui, Ayodele Dada and Henry Odumu, received between N100,000 each and N50,000 was awarded to the 11th position and other participants.
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