_OUR PAINS, HEAVEN’S JOY._
By Segun Omolehin.
*DEATH* Is a Thief And Remain The Unquestionable Event Of All Living Things.
*DEATH* Defines Our Mortality.
*ABOVE* All Understanding, Death in Nature Is Arbitrary And Tragic, Because It Put An End To Everything.
*IN* Sum Total, Death Is Not A Form Of Completion, Because Nobody Has Ever Completes LIFE! (either well spent or in the contrary).
*THE* Biblical Account Revealed That *Methuselah* The Patriarch And A Figure In Judaism, Christianity Spent The Longest Lifespan Of All Those Recorded In The Bible, By Dying At The Age Of 969years.
*EVEN* At That Old Age He Still Nursed Hope; But With Death Everything Is Finished.
*SO* Death Is No Respecter Of Any One, And By Its Pang, We Will All Definitely
Submit To It’s Call In A Manner That Is Beyond Our Control.
*IT* Is The End Of Everyone In The Physical.
*FOR* My Dear Friend,A Colleague Of The Pen Confraternity, And A Political Colossus,… HONOURABLE ELIJAH OMA AKUBO JP, Who _Fondly Eulogised Himself: *OMI LAZ ELIJAH OMA AKUBO, OGODOGODO;
MA KHO’LA OMEMELE_*:
*THE* Cut In Your Transition Of Life Is Heavy In Our Hearts.
*YOUR* Days Were Short, But Your Life Was Fulfilled.
*YOUR* Days Were Short, When The Sign Came That Tragic Night When You Told Your ( _Last Words_ ) To Your Household That You Were Briefly Going Out To Get Some Drugs From The Nearby Drugstore.
*AT* That Unsuspecting Confident You Drove Yourself Out In Your Car Alone Without The Premonition That Death Will Come So Sudden,
*WE* Thoughtless!
But Alas! Death Came Knocking And Biting Hard And Snatched You… _Hmmmm!_
_Oh Death! Where Is Thy Sting!._
*BUT* Who Are We To Question God Our Ultimate Maker And Creator!!!
As I Struggle To Find The Meaning Of Life, It All Feels Like A Dream, And Yet Each New Day Appears To Reinforce The Reality Of Your Departure.
*OUR* Hero,A Senior Special Adviser on Media To The Executive Governor Of Kogi State, Governor Usman Ahmed Ododo on Media,A Patriot And Patriarch;As We Cannot
Physically See You And Experience Your Unusual Warmth And Kindness, We Are Comforted By The Holy Bible, Which Encourages Us Not To Mourn Like Unbelievers.
*YOUR* Memories Are What We Hold Firm To Us.
*THESE* Fond Memories Are So Much To Say. But I’ll However Do My Best:
My Amiable HONOURABLE ELIJAH ,I’ve Always Known You As A Detribalise One Who Fights For The Rights Of Everyone And Never Mind Whose Ox Is Gored.
*THE* Manifestations Are Legions Reflected In That Noble Course Of Journalism Profession You Used As Weapon, And You Always Take The Front Seat.
*TO* You Journalism Was Your Ultimate Passion.
*ASIDE,You* Are A Father Without A Border Who Radiates Emitting True Love And Generosity.
*MY* Dearest Friend In The Pen Confraternity,You Are A People’s Person Who His Actions Were Always Kind,
*AN* Active Mind, Anxious To Please And Unwilling To Offend.
*A* Role Model,
*A* Political Encyclopedia,
*A* Patriot,
*A* God-fearing Man, Sociable, Respectful As He Was Respectable, Traits Under Which Hid A Disciplined And Strong Character.
*YOUR* Empathy, Kindness Benevolence And Compassion Are Extraordinary.
*YOU* Are A Father Of The Fatherless And For The Widows Alike,
*A* Patron Saint To The Needy,
*A* Special Gift To Humanity Whose Heart Is Gold;
*A* Trail Blazer Whose Exploit Brought Succour To Millions,
*A* Change Agent Who Has Lifted Several People Of Diverse Colours And Race From The Labyrinth Of Poverty To The Symmetry Of Joy.
*WORDS* Are Inadequate To Do Justice To Your Person With The Transient Flimsy Power Of Words.
*ONE* Thing However Is Sure, Your Memory Will Never Fade!
*AND* As We Mourn And Grieve Your Departure To Glory, We Don’t Grief Like People Without Hope.
*FOR* We Believe The Word Of The LORD And Know That To Be Absent From The Body Is To Be Present With The Lord.
*THE* Lord Revealed To Us That He Was Going To Prepare A Place For Us And After He Has Prepared A Place For Us He Would Come Again And Take Us So That We Will Be With Him.
*JUST* As Someone Once Said To Me That We Are Flowers In God’s Garden, He Picks The Most Beautiful Flowers To Adorn His THRONE when HE WANTS.
*THIS* Resonate Well With Us.
*WE* Thank God For Calling You To His Home Where No Pain, No Grief Is Experienced.
*YOU* Will Be Missed By All, Especially Your Immediate Family And Loved Ones, But I Know The Lord Jesus Will Continue To Grant The Entire Families Grace And Inner Strength To Bear This Loss…
_It Is Indeed OUR PAIN BUT HEAVEN’S JOY._
*From A COLLEAGUE SEGUN OMOLEHIN,JP CHAIRMAN EMERITUS, NUJ KOGI STATE COUNCIL
