Tribute to my hero. By Lolo Princess Ojinnaka.
5 min read
My name is Chinyere, the oldest child of Ichie Amadi. My siblings and I would like to welcome you all to my daddy’s celebration of life.
I have spoken, and written in so many public gatherings, but putting this tribute down has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. Please bear with me, and give me grace as I struggle through my thoughts and ideas and try to articulate what an amazing man my daddy was.
The “living and the dead are in close common communion”. This was your last quote with me early this year daddy. I didn’t know that it would be your last. With this, I know you will not be too far from us. You have left my siblings under my care, and 1 pray that you give me the wisdom to do the needful. The book of Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 “tells us that there is time for everything on earth”. A time to be born, and a time to die. Today, we celebrate your time of going back to your creator.
My dad, my hero, my first love, and a great legend, was short, but mighty, a brave community leader, a teacher, a politician who wanted to impact the whole town with his knowledge, a courageous man, and a friend to all. Your handsomeness, with your charisma always the room whenever you walked in.
I write to thank you for having me in your life. For showing me unconditional love, caring, and pampering me all these years. For standing for the truth no matter who is at fault, thank you daddy. For speaking for those who could not speak for themselves. thank you daddy. For raising me so that I can stand on the mountain, thank you daddy.
Following the words of the English poet whom you mastered most of the quotes in his literature, (William Shakespeare), you believed that “some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them. For you daddy, you assumed the responsibility to achieve your own greatness hence your father died early and left the burden on you.
Your courageous, dynamic, principled manner, being speaker of the speechless, helping the poor, and the oppressed, with the training that backed it, got you the title “justice of peace” during your tenure at the local government.
Daddy m, as I fondly called you, and taught my siblings, I have waited for those your phone calls to no avail. All I do now is talk to you in my quiet place, hoping to wake up from this horrible dream which has become a bitter reality. My happiness now daddy is that my soul knows that you’re at peace.
Daddy m, you were a guiding light whose love showed us the way. You came, fought, conquered, and left your family better. We will always be grateful.
I wish God would have given you more time for me to do more daddy, so that you will know though I am a woman married in Umuaka, my husband, your first in-law lived up to his promise. He never prevented me from doing anything for you, or my family. You have left a big void in our lives and life will never be the same again.
I know you have been with me throughout my life; in fact, you’ve been with all of us, but mine the most, hence your first. You’ve sat beside me on many occasions-yes, we’ve talked, argued, and I even got the flogging, making sure that flogging wasn’t only for your students, in case they are wondering. But in all, your love was insurmountable, because I always felt your hands on my shoulders when things got tough to deal with. I heard your words of encouragement, and I even heard your scolding. You always believed that I am still a child, and that you know it all. Remember that you’re in heaven now, and that all the angels know much better than you do. Please, don’t go there trying to correct them, because they will be wondering, and laughing, saying that you just got here.
Yes, daddy, I do love you, as we all do. I miss you terribly, but you know what, God loves you more, that’s why he took you home peacefully. It was your day to go back to your father in heaven, and no man could have changed it.
We now only have memories of all the good times we spent together, but your spirit will live on in our hearts. You brought so much joy to our family-more than you’ll ever know. You would be very proud of your grandchildren. They are all doing well.
I know you are watching over us every day as you always did. We will never let your spirit die. We will meet again one day, some of us sooner than others, but once we’re together again, it will be a celebration of love, and family, where there will be no separation ever again.
I miss you terribly. You are never out of my heart. You were the most important part of my entire life, and there is no one like you Daddy m, in the words of your hero William Shakespeare, and I quote” they do not love that do not show their love”. You showed me unconditional love, and in return daddy m, I gave you my best. I just wished that you had allowed me to pamper you like you did to me. But, God knows the best. I love you with all my heart so much daddy, that none is left for me to protest your death- Shakespeare. You have only come to me once since your demise with a very important message. We got it.
Bless me daddy to spend the rest of my life without you.
Missing you so much.
With love,
Chinyere nwa gi (Adaukwu, Adaure, Adaku)
