Cruel death has snatched popular Ijebu industrialist and businessman of the popular ST Soap fame, Alhaji Safiriyu Tiamiyu. Confirmed reports have it that the astute businessman breathed his last breath at the Babcock Teaching Hospital, Ilisan, Ogun State on Monday October 5, 2020, after a protracted illness that was not made known to the public; he was buried the following 6th October, day according to Islamic injunctions. Alhaji Tiamiuyu, aka ST, until his death, was the owner and manufacturer of the moribound popular soap variously known as ST Soap, which became a household name and widely-used medicated soap in Nigeria, especially in the 90s. If you recall, Alhaji Tiamiyu’s quality product, ST Soap, instantly became a household name in the 80s into the 90s, because of its potency, packaging, and rhythmic advert jingle which virtually became a national anthem, especially in the South West, which of course were responsible for its thus doing and selling very well, operating and flourishing from his massive factory in Ijebu Imushin, with tons of workers in his employ; but by a twist of fate, ST ran into trouble waters in 2005, when he was allegedly accused of being involved in money-making rituals and also simultaneously accused of buying human parts, especially their eyes, very severe allegations which he fought tooth and nail and was eventually vindicated by the law court.Unfortunately, since the ritual allegation case against him, ST, who used to be very popular and prominent on the Ijebu social scene and even beyond, suddenly went low, while his once thriving and booming soap business also went under and comatose; which ultimately forced him to leave the scene, and retired into more private and secluded life for years, with nothing virtually heard about him or where about, until the news of his death filtered out, apparently affirming the toll which the ritual allegations had on him and his wave-making and profitable soap business.A case,he believed was maliciously orchestrated by his detractors,at that time. He was aged 64, and survived by many wives, children, grandchildren, with a vast estate.
