Those we love never truly leave us. There are things death cannot touch!
As the journey to the final rest of Obong (Sir) G.S. Ekere KJW, the last generation of the Awolowo political dynasty who died at the ripe age of 90, commence…
Papa celebrated his last birthday on November 3, 2020, surrounded by his wife, eight children, 22 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and a host of friends and associates who will miss him dearly.
I met Papa five years ago in the house of one of his sons, His Excellency, Chief Nsima U Ekere, former deputy governor of Akwa Ibom state and former MD, NDDC in Port Harcourt.
My experience that day was more of a father and his son.
Papa took me back to the politics of the West and how Nigeria and Nigerians missed it by not allowing Awolowo to rule the country.
Papa G.S. Ekere was an encyclopedia of knowledge and a Professor of History.
He was so knowledgeable to the extent that I asked him if he was a teacher of History. He spoke good and polished English.
He knew nearly all the politicians in the West. He asked me if late Papa Adesanya was alive. The Yoruba politics would have been more compact than how it is now. He spoke well about Chief Olusegun Osoba, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande and all the progressives in the South.
Sir (Obong) G.S Ekere lived a courageous, graceful and impactful life. He had a distinguished career spanning more than five decades as a school teacher, sports administrator, public servant, community, and church leader.
In his curiosity, he wanted to know whether I was a contractor or a general businessman because my surname is very prominent in the world of successful businessmen in Nigeria. I told him journalism and business were my professions. And I was in Port Harcourt to see my brother and dependable, loyal and partner in crime, Moljengo Kaltungo, Director at NDDC.
The only fault I find in Kaltungo aka Zico since the over 20 years I have known him is that he is an Arsenal supporter.
And our overall boss, His Excellency, Ambassador Hassan Tukur named him Zico.
I don’t know why, but I will ask Ambassador when he returns to the country next week.
As fate will have it, I was part of the media team of His Excellency Godswill Akpabio in 2018-2019 where I had enough opportunity to work closely with H.E Nsima Ekere, APC gubernatorial candidate in Akwa Ibom State.
Sir G.S. Ekere was not just a father to his children but a father to all of us. He was a mentor, advisor, and strongest supporter to an uncountable number of people. He invested his energy, love, and resources to build people and the community. His life was a good book and through it, many people learned the values of integrity, accountability, service to God, humanity, and a commitment to the common good.
Papa left rich legacies that will serve as a bedrock for all of us that a good name is better than gold or silver and we must learn to grow with the people around us. That’s the trait of selfless leaders.
As the church and the entire Ekere family have scheduled activities to celebrate Papa’s life on Saturday, September 11th, 2021, they would be highly honored to receive and host you during the funeral program.
Omo rere lo ma gbeyin awa na oo.
Amin.
~ Mogaji Wole Arisekola writes from Ibadan.