It was terrible shock for me when I learnt of the passing away of Chinedu Ike yesterday. I had to call his Senior brother and my bosom friend Msgr Obiora Ike to confirm if it was a rumour. Alas, Obiora told, "Mike, what you are hearing is not a rumour; it is true". Like a man of faith that he is, I noticed that Obiora was taking this great loss with equanimity. It was he reminding me that death was inevitable and it is a question of time before each of us answers the call.
Oh, no, Chinedu Ike has answered his own call. I am a close friend of the Ike's family. Obiora and I were in Austria when Chinedu came to join us. Since then I've been relating with Chinedu. Here was a hilarious gentleman with very fertile mind. We often engaged in heated arguments on Nigerian politics. It is hard to imagine that I wont see Chinedu again in this world.
I join his numerous friends and colleagues in mourning this gentleman and in consoling the nuclear family.
Adieu Chinedu. May the Good Lord grant you eternal life

Mike Maduagwu

Our heart is low…

Chinedu Ike answered the Divine call at 3am of 17th March 2021, just the day after his 61st birthday to return to his heavenly creator. Our faith teaches that he now continues to live in a new birthday into eternity. He had fought a most courageous battle against gastric cancer, which was only detected two months earlier, in January 2021. We have lost a great friend, a jolly good fellow and a gentle man.

It is indeed an irreparable and a most devastating loss for many who enjoyed his familial friendship, companionship, scholarship, commitment and acquaintance over decades. An inspiring and versatile scholar and a committed colleague, his life of legacies and analytic spirit in his writings and teachings, make him continue to live on.

It was a privilege to have shared his life and faith at various levels. The nuclear and extended families find him irreplaceable. As a son and servant leader of Umana Ndiagu Town community and Ezeagu Local government in general his works and activities for peace and development continue. The Christian community of his Catholic Parish in Enugu have lost a committed servant of the people. Higher Education institutions where he served as teacher at the University of Nigeria; alongside Godfrey Okoye University and Peace land College of Education with encounters that cut across many circles, - social, political, civil society and international have lost a dedicated member and trusteed colleague.

Generous hearted and with a vivacious zest for life, it is impossible to meet Chinedu without being deeply refreshed, encouraged, and enriched by him and his argumentations and points of view about life and society.He called a Spade a Spade, anytime and anywhere and stood for integrity, correctness, the rule of law and participatory co-existence. His humility and accessible personality was both disarming and deeply touching.

Chinedu put immense energy into building bridges across sectors and inspiring projects and people. We owe him the duty of continuing his dream and sharing his story…“for long, many of us stood waiting outside on the corridors and aisles of the Kingdom of God, but now we can go into the Obi Chukwu and embrace the almighty in his parlour, seeing him face to face, unveiling the mystery of eternity, without tears or pains or sorrows”.

Farewell and sleep in peace, our genuinely loving brother, father, uncle and friend, kind to all especially to the needy and poor. You remained a dependable colleague who fought other peoples fights. Rest in the peace of Christ and join the holy ancestors as we look forward to seeing you again in that land, where illness, loss, or death, shall be no more!

“The old order has passed away: welcome them into paradise,
where there will be no sorrow, no weeping or pain,
but fullness of peace and joy, with your Son and the Holy Spirit
forever and ever. Amen.

Obiora Ike, Afam Ike and Godwin Ike for the entire family

17th March, 2021, The Feast of St Patrick