Three moments will remain evergreen in all the years of knowing you as my Big Sis and Dad’s first child.
I remember coming to see you at Hotel Presidential where you worked for many years. You talked about integrity, drilled into you from the character of our father. That integrity was wired into your DNA and you wore it like a badge at work.
Another time was when you came to visit Modupe and I in the hotel room at one of our funeral visits. You came with Igoboye who I was meeting for the first time. His resemblance to Dad was striking and shocking. I had been too young to know Dad since he died when I was a toddler. My recollection of him over the years came from the black and white photographs at home. Igoboye was a carbon copy of one of those younger-day photographs. Indeed, blood is thicker than water!
The final memory was watching you and Sister ‘Ibuomi, born on the same day though few years apart, dressed like twin sisters in the front row at the funeral of your younger brother, Oraibi. Now you’ve gone to meet him and the others – Sis Ibuomi, Agatha, Mum, Aunty Ibunge, Dad and all the saints who rest from their labour. Dare I say again and again that Precious to the Lord is the death of His saint. (Psalm 116:15)
The last few years could have been better. I missed your 80th birthday. Though we can’t roll back the clock to the living years, to God be the glory that it was a blast and a beautiful celebration. You were given an everlasting bouquet of flowers in life! We will continue to celebrate you as you live forever in the hearts and genes of the children, grandchildren and generations yet unborn.
Fare thee well, Big Sis and thanks for being a charming, loving, gentle and kind-hearted Sista with a heart of gold.
Love perpetual,
Abiye
On behalf of the Nation of Goma
