Ime Ekpo, like I fondly called you, I thought you were getting better, when I last spoke with you. You sounded strong and I was so sure you would pull through. I guess God had better plans for you!! . It is like a dream that you are gone.
When I got that dreadful text on that early morning from your wife which read ‘Aunty, I have lost my husband ooo’, I was totally confused and truly thought it was a dream. A dream because, I had just spoken with her a few hours before and she had told me that, you were improving. Not caring what time it was in Germany, I decided to call to make sure of what I read. With tearful eyes I could no longer sleep. Stayed up wondering why you??
Ime, for the past 30 plus years, you were an integral part of both my families. The Hogan Ekpo family that I was born into and the Ntuk family into which I married. You became a very huge part of my life. Way before those years, you were a household name in the Hogan Ekpo family but my relationship with you became much closer within those 30+ years when I got married to your best friend/soul mate. It’s not often you hear a man refer to another man as a ‘soulmate’ but that just explains how close you and my husband (Michael) were; and just like he said, nobody could have penetrated that wall between the two of you.
Having met and known you over the years, it was so easy to understand how and why.
Ime, you were someone anyone would love to have as a friend. You were loyal, humble, caring respectful of others and so generous. I remember many times while my mother was alive, you visited her numerous times without anyone asking you to do so. Each time, you took her foodstuffs, goodies money and spent time with her. My mom will always call to tell me that; you and your wife had paid her a visit; or sometimes by yourself while in that area. You took care of my mom; like she was your mom too; and will even video her and show me whenever we met.
Ime, your family became my family, your wife became my sister and your children became my children. I truly will miss all those good times being around you. Each time you visited us, you always had gifts for me and the children. My son, Kufre was always happy to see you and would always run with excitement and say ‘mommy, see what Uncle Ime Epo (Ekpo), brought for me’. Nobody could tell stories and make people laugh better than you; yet you knew when to be serious.
You were a good listener and a wonderful brother; there were times, when you became my ‘calm’ in the midst of a ‘storm’. Your death has left a very big void in my family’s life especially my husband’s. I can remember so many funny times together between us; like many years ago we all had paid my parents a visit and while we were ready to leave; my dad was not quite ready for me to leave; anyway, we left but once we got in the car, Michael became a little ‘mouthy’ and you were like ‘Da, shut up, why did you wait to get in the car to say something, why didn’t you tell your father-in-law, what you are now saying in this car’? It was a response only Ime Ekpo could have told his friend. This joke would have been funnier, if I could write it in Ibibio, unfortunately, I cannot.
Ime, you were the only other person, who called me Ima Ekpo apart from Mike. Remember, between us, we are siblings (Ime Ekpo & Ima Ekpo).
Rest In Peace my brother; and say hi to my mom. I know, she will be so delighted to see you again!!!
We pray to Almighty God to console your wife, children, your other family members and friends, like me who knew and loved you.
You will surely be missed. Goodnight and sleep well, my always jovial and smiling brother!!!.
-Ima Ekpo-Ntuk.