Dr. Bedford Umezulike: The end of an era
Remembered by Eric Umeh
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January 25th, 2021 left an indelible mark in my memory and a big dent in my psyche. It was like no other day. It was a day I lost a dear friend who was also my mentor, and my confidant to whom I am well pleased to call my dear brother. It was a day Dr. Umez died in my hands as we rushed him from Houston Texas to a cancer specialist in Dallas, Texas. It was a day I felt like a boxer who was knocked down in a fight and never to get up again. It was like a sound of a bell that went off and never to come back again. “What a day! What a day! What a day!” I have cried like a wounded lion and I have equally tried to move on but each time I moved one step forward the wound hurts even more and I cry again and again.
Bedford was a guy I admired and adored over the years during our childhood village life at Akpugoeze town. We were four years apart in age but we hung out like equals because Bedford was a very down to earth person. From the village Bedford and I moved to Onitsha where he taught at Chukwurah high school while I attended high school at Christ The King College, CKC Onitsha. We then moved to Lagos where Bedford worked for First Bank of Nigeria and I worked for NAL Merchant Bank Ltd. Later, Bedford moved to the US to study at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, in Durant. Few years later, through his encouragement, I also travelled to the United States to study in the same university.
He graduated before I came to Southeastern but he waited to make sure I was well situated in the school before he went to the University of North Texas in Denton for his graduate programme. Later, I joined him at UNT for my graduate programme too. We were roommates in Denton, Lewisville and Dallas Texas. In 1994, I was the best man in his wedding and in 1995, I was the godfather to his son Bedford Jr. Nor was this all, in 2000 Bedford was the best man in my wedding.
Figuratively speaking, Bedford and I could take bullet for each other. Suffice all these to say that Bedford and I established a bond that only death could break but even at that we ignored death like it will never come, but here we are today.
What a loss ! What a loss ! What a big loss!! What a big loss!!
Enugu State and Akpugoeze town in particular have lost a voice. A voice that speaks the truth. A voice that says it the way it is no matter whose ox is gored. A voice that respects others but still gets his points across each time. In his works, he spent a lot of time challenging us to “Liberate the African minds”. Particularly he confronted the African Leaders and asked them to eschew corruption, invest in African countries, create jobs, and feed their people. Dr Umez was an ambassador of peace and he left a crispy legacy for us to emulate. For details please go to umez.com
Dr Umez was a legend. He was larger than life. His death was one death too many and too soon. He will be very dearly missed for his kindness, his love for humanity, his humour and his honesty. He was a quality gentleman extraordinaire. His academic brilliance and determination to succeed in anything he puts his mind into is unparalleled and equal to none.
Nigerians and Africans in diaspora have lost a true gem and a true son of the land. He loved his people. He projected issues that concern us. He was never afraid to speak up. At the time of his death, he left an unfinished business of bringing a Nigerian Consulate to Houston, Texas to serve Nigerians in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and its environs. He argued that these areas have the largest concentration of Nigerians throughout the United States and as such, bringing a Nigerian consulate in Houston will alleviate the problems encountered by Nigerians in the aforementioned areas. Dr Umez was a true leader, a humanitarian and an embodiment of hard work, dignity, resilience, uprightness, fair-mindedness, gentle but tough love through discipline, advocacy, justice for all and dedication to family and community.
It will be unfair for me to conclude this tribute without expressing a deep sense of appreciation to Bedford’s wife, his love, Ema who took care of him especially in the last four months of his life. Many people may not know what Ema went through or what she has done for Bedford but I know, and Bedford knew too. On December 1st, 2020 Bedford called me and told me to leave everything I was doing and come to Houston to see him. I came to his house that evening. He told me the bad news that he was diagnosed with cancer. He asked me specifically to thank Ema for all that she has done for him. I bowed down for a moment, as I pondered, it was not lost on me what a daunting task it is to take care of a loved one who is sick; especially sick to the point that he or she cannot do basic necessary things for himself or herself. It’s a special blessing when you have someone who can take care of you in that situation, and that was exactly who Ema was and exactly what Ema did.
As I reminisce his death, it hurts. I am still in shock, in disbelief and breathless to think that Bedford is no more. I have decided to surrender all to God, but the thought that I will never see Bedford again weakens me as if a straight punch was delivered with anger and savagery under my ribcage.
Bedford, we will never forget! Dust though your body has become, your ideas and wisdom live on. My brother rest in peace until we meet to part no more!!
From your confidant, Eric, Eric [as you fondly call me].
