Farewell! Kelikume!!
I dedicate this part to you Mike. You died too young, but not without impact. You died leaving so many lessons about life which many may not fathom. Life is simple but gets complicated by the complexities of our human nature, craves and desires.
I was at your funeral Mass yesterday. Even in your lying in state before the altar the stupidity of human nature of struggle for everything was displayed. They struggled for your brochure, made needless noise because of it, while in real essence, mournful and sober disposition should have been the mood, but the Nigeria gene in them couldn’t allow them to respect your corpse and pay you that last respect.
Mba! They must always show in a disgraceful manner, the grab this, grab that mentality, a bad scenario for me yesterday.
Forgive them Mike, you were a man of order and would certainly frown at such a show of shame inside the church. Unfortunately, the brochure which many struggled to get, became excess, anybody could have it effortlessly for the asking.
This year made it seven years I knew you. It was in DRACC at lugbe when CMO of my Parish celebrated that year’s Father’s Day. Incidentally, it was the same year you were made CMO Patron of my Parish at such a young age. Those who made you Patron at such a young age knew what they saw.
I remember very clearly your aligning disposition to the homily of the Rev. Fr. that celebrated the opening Mass of that event. Every point made by that priest about the indiscretion of some married women were re-echoed by you. You sat directly behind me and I could clearly hear and feel your pains.
I knew something was wrong but I couldn’t readily pinpoint it.
After the event, it became clear why you reacted the way you did. Anybody in your shoes would too.
Same year, I was asked to chair the planning of that year’ harvest of my parish, anchored by my community Imo/ Abia. That event brought us closer, you opened your purse strings and made your awesome contribution.
Ever since that time, we got closer and your kind of personality remains one I admire. You were fearless, vocal, who had no room to pander on issues. You said it as it was ,unmindful of whose ox is gored.
I remember with nostalgia one incident that happened on the day of harvest of that year. You stood your ground until justice was done.
Yesterday, as I sat watching your coffin rolled out of the church, I saw the futility of life. Mike Kelikume! The vivacious Mike, the outspoken Mike! The generous Mike! The jolly good fellow Kelikume!! Inside a coffin ,starting a journey to eternity where only the mercy of God can grant blissful abode not anybody’ good works.
Fathers! This is the part all would go! Just a matter of time, how, where, when it would be, remains on the lap of God.
I celebrate you Mike Kelikume. I celebrate those moments of care for the needy, the less privileged, those moments that you gave unreservedly to a course for human development, those moments you emptied yourself to ensure someone in pains gets relief and smiles restored to a grieving soul. I celebrate those moments that you stood for equity and insured that justice wasn’t perversed.
You weren’t a saint but you sincerely tried to be both a humanist who believed also in God’s power.
Rest in peace Mike! Members of CMO of my Parish are currently at DRACC for this year’s father’s day event. Same place you were made a Patron. How futile can life be! How empty!
Rest in peace Mike Kelikume! MY GEEE!
MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON YOU.. YOU HAD A COMPASSIONATE HEART LIKE DORCAS IN THE BIBLE
JARLATH OPARA JARLATHUCHE@GMAIL.COM
