How celebs and fans mourned the death of West African Idol finalist Eric Arubayi

2007 West African Idols finalist, Eric Arubayi passed on at the Delta State University Teaching Hospital on Saturday, February 11, 2017.

The Gospel singer, who’s survived by his wife of three years Chinonso and their son Jayden Arubayi, was reportedly rushed to the hospital after a brief illness.

While we wait for an official statement from his family, Nigerians – including his friends, fans and colleagues have mourned the death of the man who’s been labeled as a great soldier of Christ.

The musicians

May your soul Rest In Peace ERIC ARUBAYI

— EMPEROR JAGZ (@Jessejagz) February 12, 2017

Your smile was like a bright light!!!!
Rest #Eric
God knows best!!! https://t.co/tMRLzymdae

— Tim Godfrey (@timgodfreyworld) February 12, 2017

i celebrate your life Eric … you touched my life and many out there … i love you bro pic.twitter.com/DBOkoeAzoK

— PRAIZ #Folashade (@Praiz8) February 12, 2017

Sing on for the Lord in Heaven Eric Arubayi! You already gave Him your life & talent here! We miss ur quality! #Prayers for ur young family pic.twitter.com/PPrV0vgWtJ

— Obiora Obiwon (@ObioraObiwon) February 12, 2017

Fine young man Eric Arubayi! But ur soul is d finest cos u gave it 2 d Lord!Plus ur talent!Devil ntooorr u lost this one!He's with the Lord! pic.twitter.com/d1DK1ZuH4p

— Obiora Obiwon (@ObioraObiwon) February 12, 2017

RIP @EricArubayi … Always greeted me in church. It is well with your soul ???????? pic.twitter.com/wd4b58O4Sb

— Seyi Shay INTERNATIONAL BAD GYAL (@iamseyishay) February 12, 2017

Nollywood stars paid tribute too

E R I C ! ????

— Chioma Akpotha (@chiomakpotha) February 11, 2017

Sad to hear about the passing of Eric Arubayi. What a loss! So glad he was a man of faith & loved God with all his heart. #RIP #EricArubayi

— Daniel Ademinokan (@DaBishop007) February 11, 2017

???? chinonsoarubayi Be Strong. https://t.co/kpiLNolsVS

— GIDEON (@GIDEON_OKEKE) February 11, 2017

Sad

— MNO CHRONICLES (@MealdredO) February 11, 2017

I still said it yesterday, that he mustn't die oo, I said it on Thursday too, that he must… https://t.co/M4TLoEZ5rH

— Kemi Lala Akindoju (@lalaakindoju) February 11, 2017

What's really the point of Anything. #Weak

— GIDEON (@GIDEON_OKEKE) February 11, 2017

RIP Eric Arubayi …..great guy

— Imoh (@ImohUmoren) February 11, 2017

How does Eric just die… To think we still talked about quick actions and intercessions on Thursday!!! How?

— Kemi Lala Akindoju (@lalaakindoju) February 11, 2017

As did Radio and TV personalities

I pray God comforts Eric Arubayi’s family and loved ones.

Rest peacefully Eric Arubayi pic.twitter.com/BA6JRh8JEm

— Ebuka Obi-Uchendu (@Ebuka) February 12, 2017

This is just too sad.

— Cinderella Man (@Osi_Suave) February 12, 2017

The fans are pained too

The cars,the accolades, the busy schedules will not matter when our real self leaves this rented body…#LiveForTheKingdom #ericarubayi

— BIG Guy™ (@Mr_Gozie) February 12, 2017

Rest on Eric great soldier of Christ!!! You fought ur battle well. Sing and praise with d Angels. #ericarubayi #RIPEric pic.twitter.com/E6I1uWE14e

— may9tauran (@basiemerald) February 12, 2017

Eric Arubayi your sultry soothing tones uplifted through gospel as Marvin Gaye was soul to R&B

— Ola Opesan (@2_opesan) February 12, 2017

Wow. Always hard to see a young person with so much promise pass on. Rest in peace, Eric Arubayi. May God grant his family the fortitude

— Simon De Gooner (@WF_SimonSEEZ) February 12, 2017

Rest in peace Eric Arubayi. Such an amazing talent gone too soon…

— Oye (@O2Boom) February 12, 2017

God rest your soul and keep you with his Angels Eric Arubayi. This is so Sad.

— Cash???? (@Hellynux) February 12, 2017

#ericarubayi oh death where is your sting! And grave thy victory. You will not hold the saints of God to ransome. Jesus has overcome! RIP

— WIDE EYED (@jaminbriggz) February 12, 2017

My heart is really heavy. Its never easy 2 lose some1 u know. We can only b consoled by his love 4 Christ. We miss u Eric. RIP #ericarubayi

— Miss Chε̲̣̣̣̥n (@epudom2k8) February 12, 2017

My first impression of #EricArubayi was "who is this fine boy singing go house on the rock church?". Didn't even know he was 3rd runner up..

— Paris.O (@missappleberry) February 12, 2017

Eric Arubayi is gone ????????????
this is the saddest news ever????????
Not Eric ,God please wake him up

— ❤Eyiwunmi???????? (@JustDamie) February 12, 2017

I just can't believe Eric Arubayi is dead! Like I'm in shock! How does this even happen, God of Mercy & Compassion

— Phanny (@pweetyphi) February 12, 2017

Indeed his is a great loss to the world

Terrible Terrible News…. RIP Eric Arubayi…. This is indeed a great loss to the World… Love you buh Jesus loves you More #ericarubayi

— CONQUEROR ???????????????????????? (@vectorvelocy) February 12, 2017

Someone was feeling a different kind of pain

Our entertainment industry is so #FAKED,many people now forming familiarity wif #ericarubayi bt while he was alive,no one really gave a F*

— MRMAN (@MAN_DEVEGAS) February 12, 2017

The touching tributes on Instagram

Eric! Eric!! Eric !!! We have tried rejecting this news since yesterday, waiting & HOPING for you to just wake up from this deep SLEEP so you may continue with your LIFE’s journey , but waking up this MORNING to find out our close FRIENDS have waited all night for you to ARISE but you OBVIOUSLY prefer the OTHER side to this MADNESS we call Earth . Eric it’s just been 10yrs friendship,dating back the day Yourself ,Timi , Omawunmi and other walked into our little Maryland OUCHlet after the white West African Idols Toyota bus dropped you guys off at mine for STYLING. since then we have all chased our hustle , The distractions were much to do other Genres of MUSIC but you said you just wanted to WORSHIP God with your music. We progressed from Bachelorhood and became husband and then FATHERS. Eric you need to see the way Jayden looks at my daughter Ophelia whenever Nonso your beautiful and pleasant wife brings him over to our house. Eric it was only you who kept reminding and HARASSING me that I can’t let my musical gift just slide and which we always laughed over it, Eric I still remember late 2015 when you called me up on stage to do a song along with you…So we won’t share such moment again? ? we never had the opportunity to have that PHOTOSHOOT for OUCH…would I easily forgive myself for been too busy to make that happen? Journey well my brother and FRIEND. But wait…Would MALARIA have snatched Eric from us at such a young Age in a Delta-state Hospital if PUBLIC officials didn’t STEAL the monies, but had JUDICIOUSLY used such funds provided to make available BASIC and GOOD MEDICARE in that state for that purpose? #EnoughIsEnough #GiceUsGoodGovernance #medicare #hospitals #Water #light #roads #

A photo posted by Uche Nnaji The StyleDoctor (@uchennaji) on Feb 11, 2017 at 10:14pm PST

I can’t believe it, I choose Not to accept, You were Such a pleasant fellow from Abraka Days , A strong believer of Christ & Am So heart broken this Morning ….. May you Rest In Peace Brotherly #Gone2soon#Eric#Rip

A photo posted by Peggy Ovire (@peggyovire) on Feb 11, 2017 at 10:23pm PST

Last time we saw was at Pita’s As I Am concert. Such a beautiful soul, you didn’t need to be really close to see it. Good night brother, see you on the other side of eternity. Praying God comes through mightily as a rock for your wife and son. #EricArubayi

A video posted by GAISE (@gaisebaba) on Feb 11, 2017 at 6:25pm PST

I am posting this video with trembling hands: I literally went to bed on top of the world and the bitter news of your death, knocked me flat, and put the world right on top of me. I had to scroll through the pages of mutual friends to believe it…… Who are we to ask why? You lived right and did right, proclaimed Christ and carried his name like a banner for all to see….. Today Lord my heart is so very heavy… Help me to hold on to my faith and the truth that you are a good God….. The voices I hear in my head says otherwise, my tears say different but my spirit knows your word. Help me to believe and trust you right now cos my faith is so weak and fragile and my flesh is weak. Renew my strength Lord, restore my joy, renew my mind and remind me once again of your goodness and love Eric…. Oh dear Eric….. Heaven received an angel…. But everywhere suddenly seen darker as the world lost a bright shining star…….. It is well…. I have to keep saying this today…. It is indeed well.

A video posted by Lepacious (@lepaciousbose) on Feb 11, 2017 at 10:17pm PST

Eric is among one of the guys who has kept asking me to relocate to lagos fully and most times I just tell him “Oga no worry I dey come cut the session with you soonest” Eric will tell me oh boy no joke with the malachi oh” We meet last in December,had a wonderful service at CGMI egiyere zonal HQT warri,cool guy that does not know how to form when he is with his hommies. We disturbed the service sha,himself @youngchiefyic nd I. It was so inspiring and fun that day with him and Eric has this unique pitch shand because we always meet at #lagoswedding where he would take a session of worship before opening prayers. I had to nickname him #theweddingworshipper. Rest in God’s bossom .

A video posted by KelvinSapp (@kelvinsapp) on Feb 11, 2017 at 10:34pm PST

This was the first day we met… the idols audition … i didn’t mKe it but u did … even after making it big u took me along.. You gave me hope that i cud succeed… treated me like a brother .. seeing u on tv sing and smile gave my heart a lift and hope … I remember when u wud call me to tell me u were coming to abuja and invite me.. U made me feel like i was a star..introduced me to everyone… And when i was leaving back to Kaduna ,u will give me alot of money and clothes.. i never thought i wud have.. I remember when u forced @omawonder to make me sing cos i didnt make it to the idols show… You taught me how to sing in falsetto… i never thought it was possible cos of my voice texture… u pushed me and taught me how. …..ERIC

A photo posted by PRAIZ (@officialpraiz) on Feb 11, 2017 at 5:04pm PST

Your Kindness…I Remember Your Kindness And That Smile Of Yours… And Your Voice..How Can We Ever Forget That Voice… Sleep Well Eric

A photo posted by Adesua Etomi (@adesuaetomi) on Feb 12, 2017 at 12:10am PST

I am still wondering how?! This shouldn’t be Chineke ooooh RIP #ericarubayi #gonetoosoon – I am at a loss of words – go with God and may he console your family at this time in ways no human can.

A photo posted by Andrea Chika Chukwu (@andreachikachukwu) on Feb 11, 2017 at 4:43pm PST

…..to be absent in the body is to be present with the Lord. All my conversations with Eric were about coming to lead Worship and Warfare in Joshua Ville, I know he’s certainly singing with the angels… It just hurts, really hurts..

A video posted by lala akindoju (@lalaakindoju) on Feb 11, 2017 at 9:32pm PST

#I Could Write An Epistle #But Words Fail Me @ericarubayi #May God Give Your Wife Son and Family The Heart To Bear This News #Nigeria is in shock #REST IN PEACE #YOUR VOICE WAS A BLESSING #A GIFT YO US #Sleep On

A video posted by Belinda Effah (@belindaeffah) on Feb 11, 2017 at 10:41pm PST

May his soul rest in peace.