Farewell Senator Dr Ifeanyi Ubah CON
By Kamen Chuks Ogbonna
Indeed, the end of an era is here and the destinies of thousands suddenly got stalled.
Ara na azu Umu (the breast that feeds the multitude), has gone to observe a much deserved rest, albeit in the afternoon.
It is past 3am and it is around the time we usually talk strategy on phone and here I am trying to organise my thoughts and in disbelief, write you this farewell note. I wish to wake up from this terrible nightmare and pray, bind and cast this terrible news away. Cries of anguish have enveloped several homes and several hearts that followed your lead with passion have been left heartbroken and numb with disbelief.
In the past 24 hours, I have received calls in hundreds from the high and mighty in the society, the middle class and the poor all expressing disbelief and many crying so uncontrollably on the phone that I had to set aside my own grief, albeit momentarily, and offer words of comfort to them.
The great Iroko has fallen and the birds are up and about in confusion and indignation. Some of them offered to die in your stead and according to them, offer their loved ones the opportunity to enjoy the new Anambra that you wanted to deliver as a legacy.
Ikemba! You came, saw and conquered, leaving an indelible mark on humanity.
Just a few days ago when we came back around 3 am in the morning, after a marathon round of visits to several towns as part of your party stakeholders consultative outreach in preparation for primaries, I whispered into your ear on the need for you to immediately retire to bed to get some deserved rest. But you smiled, said you will and still stayed up till daybreak with the members of your campaign advisory council, plotting strategy and analysing the feedback from the various visits.
When I complained later about your work rate and near zero sleeping habit and the need to have you refreshed and energised for the rigourous campaign ahead, you sat me down and narrated a story to me.
You told me the story of a question that your son asked you on the family WhatsApp group.
He asked why you are adding more houses to your palatial estate in the village where him and his siblings do not stay or intend to live?
You said, “Kamen, if Anambra is safe, your children will comfortably visit home especially during holidays and also invite their friends too.”. You said they will be proud to come home and make use of the facilities available for them in Nnewi
You said you are going to make it happen and will also shock Ndi Anambra by being in office as Governor for four years as you also intend to retire early from politics with the fulfilment and legacy of having instituted a new template of development for Anambra State.
Your five story media house building that was to serve as a flagship igbocentric Digital television projecting the activities of Ndi Igbo globally is almost complete with some of the equipments already purchased abroad.
I spoke with you all the way from London where you went to attend your son’s graduation ceremony, and all was well with you, only for the sad news to come a few hours later that you slumped while chilling in the lobby of the hotel with one of your sons and efforts made to revive you in the hospital failed.
Yes, we kept screaming in our heads for your super human strength , to manifest and help you cheat death.
Yes, cheat death , because so many destinies are tied to you from those on your scholarship, payroll, mentees, political followers down to the sellers on your street that enjoy both patronage from the multitude that troop to your house on daily basis and the free light that powers the entire well tarred street that spans almost 3 km, once your generating set is switched on.
But as mere mortals, who are we to question God’s will?
Farewell, gallant civilian warrior; your journey has come to an end,
Your legacy remains, a testament to your noble deeds and trends.
Your unbelievable impact on the youths, women, men, young and old alike from Anambra to the South East, and Nigeria, will forever be in our hearts.
Farewell, humble leader, who engaged with young and old, poor and rich .
Your approachability is a rarity, a story to be forever told.
Your contact details, widely known, a symbol of your open door,
Will be missed, but your memory, we’ll forever adore.
Farewell, grassroots leader, mobilizer of youth, and idea bearer per excellence.
Your residence in Abuja, a meeting place for Anambra’s young, will be remembered, as a hub for ideas, and dreams, where futures were shaped, and hopes sprung.
Farewell, dear boss, brother, and friend, who attended celebrations, big and small, and proffered solutions and succour to all manner of needs and requests.
Your larger than life presence, a blessing, will be deeply missed, by one and all.
Your generosity, accessibility and extraordinary kindness outweighed any human flaw in you.
A self motivated man, with zero tolerance for the impossible who dropped out of school to seek financial independence for the family, went through the Igba Boi; trade apprenticeship program and yet had the presence of mind to return to the four walls of university as a billionaire business mogul, to bag an LLB in Law and currently pursuing Masters in Business Administration from the prestigious Baze University.
Farewell, Ebubechukwu Uzo, your energy is highly infectious and we all learned to work extra just as you do, your commitment to worthy ventures is unwavering and will always be remembered, as a guiding light, that will forever be shining.
During difficult times, you stood as a rock and a comfort to many.
Your legacy as a beacon, will forever be there, to guide the loved ones that you left behind through the storms.
Rest in peace, dear Senator, may God comfort your loved ones,and the rest of us that followed your path with passion
And may your soul, find eternal peace, beneath the sun and in God’s own bosom.
Farewell, gallant warrior, your memory, we’ll hold dear
A shining star, that will forever appear.
