Dear Dad, I am grateful for the precious moments we spent during your last days, until I received the dreaded call from Euracare that morning, saying you had just passed away at 7.18! This time, when I arrived at the hospital, it was different, as your bed’s headrest was flat, with your head covered. I uncovered it to see you. You looked peaceful and asleep, that was one of the saddest moments of my life. I kissed your forehead, which was still very warm. As I write this, I cast my mind back to the 70s, our Surulere days as a child in kindergarten, who loved jumping into the back seat of your 2-door sports car for the family weekend rides. Another memorable experience was me sitting on your neck as we ran from a dangerous riot at the National Stadium in Surulere, after a Super Eagles football match. We later heard that many lives were lost that day from a stampede, and we were grateful to God that we made it out in the nick of time!
As you moved up in life, we moved to Victoria Island and vividly remember our Bar-Beach fish market visits, followed by your dexterity in the kitchen with your delicious stews that had everyone asking for more! Soon after came secondary school, which was very different! These days were full of pleasant surprises and gifts for all of us from your numerous work trips abroad. A remarkable high point was the day you surprisingly drove into Igbobi College to show me your brand new Mercedes 200, and took me for a quick spin, making me the envy of all my friends. I later grew up becoming your fishing buddy and watched you pioneer a new trend in Nigeria at the time, when you set up the Anglers Club of Nigeria. An association of professionals who enjoyed fishing on the rocks at the Naval dockyard in Victoria Island. We enjoyed deep-sea fishing, sailing out of the Lagos Motorboat club, and returning with a boat full of Wahoos, Dorados, and Barracudas on the good days! On the not-so-good days, we would either come back with fish we bought from the fishermen or wonderful fisherman stories for the folks at home, on how we lost a very big catch (lol).
You were truly one of a kind, introducing me to my first glass of beer as a young adult, a habit we enjoyed together for many years, and then I stopped and you fully respected my decision to stop drinking when I did. During my early days abroad, your regular calls and voice messages were inspirational to me and my friends. You visited Leicester twice, including to attend my graduation as a proud dad, making my friends wish for a dad like you! In retirement, you were relentless, as we worked closely to conceptualize and build Blue Island, which today stands as a testament to your grit and hard work, and, as I would joke, your retirement hobby! You remained ever supportive with your wise counsel throughout, and I can’t thank you enough for our last priceless moments together, which were filled with open, honest heart-to-heart conversations as you fought gallantly! Adieu, Dad, till we meet again, God willing!
I love you Dad!
Love, Etete
