The proprietor and principal of Abifab College, Ikorodu, Lagos, Abidemi Faboye, says the late Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad, would most probably have been alive if he had the kind of family background that Davido had.
Faboye said the late singer wanted to study accounting in the university and wonders at what point he opted for music.
He, however, recalled that Mohbad was active in the school’s music club and always entertained the school during debates.
Mohbad was a pupil at the secondary school owned and run by Faboye, according to a report by the PUNCH newspapers.
The principal said he got to know Mohbad when he enrolled in the school in 2013. His elder sister, Blessing, also graduated from the school in 2013, the principal said.
He was 17 years old then, and he wrote the National Examination Council [NECO] senior secondary certificate exam in 2015, and made his papers in one sitting.
According to the principal, Mohbad was in commercial class, and he had very good results.
“I would not say he was an excellent student, but he was above average. He was an easygoing person who never made trouble.
“He wanted to study Accounting, and I told him there was no way he could do that without mathematics. So, he improved in mathematics and financial accounting,” the principal recalled.
“When I heard that he was a member of the Marlian group, I was surprised. I doubted if he could cope with such group. Although he was mature, I felt he must have mixed with a few others who joined the record label. I prayed that God would be with him, because after he left school, we did not communicate regularly.
“Many of us, including the teachers who taught him, were surprised. When we heard about Imole, we were all surprised. I was not familiar with afrobeats music, until one day, my daughter told me, ‘Do you know Uncle Promise is now Mohbad?’ I took my phone and chatted with him via Messenger. He then gave me his number. His dad is a carpenter, and as a student, he often assisted his dad. He learnt carpentry from his father, who is also a pastor.
“Back then, I noticed then that whenever school closed, he did not usually stay for up to five minutes, before going home. His house was a bit far from the school, so I always thought he wanted to get back home on time. He was active in the school’s music club. During quiz competitions, he would lead with songs.
“If Promise had the type of background David Adeleke (Davido) had, he might likely be alive now. I believe Mohbad’s death was avoidable, but God knows best,” the principal said.
