This Saturday, I want to thank my many friends across the world, some of whom I know, a lot of whom I have never met, who these past few weeks, have bombarded me with messages of goodwill.
On practically every media platform, I have received so many-many prayers and good wishes. Please pardon me if I have not responded to you personally. I appreciate every good wish and regret that it is just not possible to respond to everyone.
As I wrote two weeks ago, there has been so much celebration and happiness in my family that I have had to stop and ask myself, ”what exactly have I done that the good Lord seems to have singled me out for so much blessings?” From the bottom of my heart, I must thank all of you from far and near, who have prayed for me and my family.
These last couple of weeks have also given me the opportunity to get closer to and truly know the hearts of a number of people whom I have been associated with for a long time.
For instance, I have known Efe Ovbagbedia and her husband, Innocent, a first-class lawyer, for over 30 years. In fact, we lived in the same house in Lagos, several years ago. Efe is Godmother to my daughter, Chika, who just had a baby in Baltimore, Maryland. In the family, we simply call Efe, “God Mother”. Efe’s kindness and selflessness is well known to me but I had little chance of knowing the essence of her person until about two and half weeks ago. At 100% her own cost, Efe left Lagos to be with my family and help prepare for Alex’s wedding to Eric even before I got to the U.S. She had no other business in America.
I found myself spending several days in the same home with Mrs. Efe Ovbagbedia. Every day, without fail, she was concerned with what I ate and whether there were fruits and vegetables in the meal. She was concerned with whether I had taken a walk. She was concerned with whether I had spent time in the sun. She was concerned with whether I had taken my medication and when I was going to bed. I began to call her “Micro Manager” but she is a micro manager for good. Several times a day, she would call her husband in Nigeria to enquire about his well-being. I have repeatedly written that there are two kinds of people in the world: the givers and the takers. Efe Ovbagbedia is a giver.
I thank my big sister, Dorothy Akujuo, who came to Mayland from New York. You may recall the big celebration of my sister’s 80th birthday, last year. She is now 81 but does not in any way look it. My sister who is now practically mother of the Okoroji family, danced and danced, sprayed and sprayed in Maryland and made me happy.
I thank the many friends, family and in-laws who came from, California, Alabama, Massachusetts, Texas, New Jersey, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York and the significant number who live in Maryland. What of my nephew who flew in from Switzerland?
I must thank the thousands of members of the COSON family all over Nigeria, and many others in the creative industry family, who have stood staunchly by me through thick and thin and who prayed for me and wished me well.
Once again, I cannot but thank the members of the COSON Board who have humbled me with their camaraderie, love and support, very uncommon to anyone in my position in Nigeria. I specifically thank the Afro Juju creator, Sir Shina Peters whose love has been ready and steady; the delectable Kenny Saint Best (KSB) whom I also call Kenny Saint Beautiful, Kenny Saint Blessed, Kenny Saint Brilliant, Kenny Saint Billions etc. etc.; Engr. Sharon Esco Wilson Joshua, Founding Pastor of the Bible Believing Church; the great drummer and producer, Richard Ayodele Cole, who in every way is my brother from another mother and Chief Uche Emeka Paul whom I dearly call ‘Onye Ngozi’ (the man of blessings).
I thank the multi-talented, restless and progressive Koffi Da Guru whom I tried to bring to Maryland without success; the unshakable Sir Angus Power Nwangwu, who with his beautiful wife, has played host to me various times in Enugu; the hugely gifted Righteousman Erhabor, the undisputed president of the ‘Righteous Nation’; Oge Kimono, the very beautiful and brilliant “son” of my brother, the late Rub-A-Dub Master, Ras Kimono; Evangelist of the People, Olusegun Omoyayi and the super articulate Zdon Paporella.
Please, how do I thank the beautiful Bernice Eriemeghe–Ashibuogwu, the distinguished accountant who is General Manager of COSON? I was stunned that Mrs. Eriemeghe-Ashibuogwu conspired with her husband, Emmanuel, who lives in Germany, and they spent a significant sum of their own money so she could fly from Lagos and stand by me, two weeks ago, as Alex, my daughter, got married to Eric in Ellicott City, Maryland. As I thank the COSON GM, I thank the staff of COSON, who toil every day to keep alive the dreams behind the organisation and make sure that the COSON flame is kept burning.
Oh yes, I thank my colleagues at TOPS Digital: DB, Ijay, Peter “Okwute”, and Kasi all of whom have become, more or less, extensions of my family.
Let me repeat that I did not win the lotto, neither did I build a mansion in Maitama, Banana Island or anywhere else. I still struggle like a lot of Nigerians to buy the very expensive fuel, pay the galloping electricity bills, get food to eat at some prodigious cost and go through the day praying not to become a victim of kidnappers and bandits.
The good Lord has however given me two of the most important things I have asked of Him. He has given me the grace to use the work I do, to touch the lives of many people who have little.
You can also see that the good Lord has given me human assets that no money can buy. While I live in Nigeria and will continue to live in Nigeria, God has given me three great sons-in-law, all in the U.S., Sam, Josh and now, Eric. I got married at 25 years and now have four grand-sons and two grand-daughters in America. What else should I ask of the good Lord? It has been celebration galore all around me.
Please, do not misunderstand me. I have not made any big money. I still struggle to make ends meet like most Nigerians under the present economic environment. My heart is however filled with joy.
I consider myself a very lucky man and I thank the Almighty for the incredible protection he has given me in many trying circumstances that would have sunk many men.
Thank you, my wonderful friends.
See you next week.
