I SAW 'UNITY' AT OWERRI

Sunday September 22 was an important day in Owerri. It was the long awaited day of the presentation of my tribute and book in memory of my late Dear wife Nancy and my Loving daughter Jennifer. It was also my late daughter's birthday. She would have been 13. The presentation brought a semblance of political unity in Imo state. The event chaired by the state chairman of PDP also had chairmen and leaders of APC, SDP, UPP, APGA etc in attendance. Several current and past government leaders, religious leaders, Project Ike members, NAJICPA members from different cities, scores of my Facebook friends and rank and file of Imo people were in attendance. Of course the media outfits also came too. I thank all who took time out of their busy schedule to join me in honoring my late wife and daughter. We also took time to address some national issues especially corruption. Political leaders of Imo state dropped their divisions and threw banters at themselves. It was as if there were no political divides. Everyone was at peace with each other. God, Nigeria and my Family's Blood brought unity to Owerri albeit for a short time. Hopefully this is the beginning of new things in our body politic especially in IMO state. God bless and keep us all.

  A few years ago I met Jessica and Jennifer Ibe in Nigeria, newly coming to Africa from America. They were pretty cool and we hung out with each other, (honestly I wasn't  regretting the idea of coming to Nigeria anymore.) I met their parents and they were like the coolest adults I had ever met. Life was great. School was good but, most importantly I had my two new best friends right by my side and I never thought I was going to loose one of them.
I remember when we had this huge argument and I didn't want to give in and she didn't want to either but, one day she came up to me and said, "Danielle we're suppose to be best friends but, we can't even straighten up this crooked line between us". I just looked at her and I looked into her watery eyes and said,"I'm sorry" and she didn't say anything but, all she did was hug me and I knew then and there that she had forgiven me and I knew too that she knew I had forgiven her.  I respected Jennifer even though she was a grade below Jessica and I because, she reasoned better and understood more than her fellow class mates. In 6th grade I had only three people in my class, and that was Jessica Ibe, Saidu Shehu, and myself (Danielle Egbufoama) that made us only three students in the class. Saidu and I played alot with Jessica and sometimes we went a little over board with it but, we were just little kids just having fun, not trying to mean any harm. Jessica would always try to act annoyed when we messed around with her but, she would always laugh with us but, besides that we were having the time of our lives. One day after playing around with Jess, Saidu ran out to get a drink of water and I sat down with Jessica and we were just talking, I was still trying to mess around and before I knew it I said, " Do you love your little sister?" and she first looked at me as if I was crazy and finally she said, "Yes. Yes I do. Why are you asking?" I shrugged my shoulders at first and said, " Would you do anything thing for her?" she hesistated at first and then she said, "Of course I'd do anything for her. She's my little sister and I love her to pieces. Why do you keep on asking these questions? Don't you believe me? Why do you even care?". At that point I could see Jess wasn't lying, she was being honest , I could see it in her eyes that she'd do anything to protect her little sister ,Jennifer and  I could see she was concerned just with the look on her face. I wanted to tell her to chill it was just some questions but, I didn't because, I just started asking her questions like that out of no where and I could see she was just being protective but I just shrugged my shoulders walked around to the back of the room and sat there, it was until Saidu came back the silence had broken, at the end of the day I walked up to Jess, and said, "I believed you and you're a great big sister, I just wanted to hear you say those words, I don't know why but, I just did" she smiled and walked away. After 6th grade Jess and I didn't really see each other because, she went to a different school and Jennifer went to a new school too. The last time I actually remember seeing Jess and Jenn was on Jennifer's 11th birthday and time to time I would call and see how it was going with them.They moved to Apo so I could n't see them and I would beg my mom so I could go over their house so I could hang out with them and maybe even have a sleepover at their house. When I heard about the plane crash I went down the list and saw Jenny's name and said to myself, "No ,it can't be her there can be alot of Jennifer Ibes' in Nigeria. What are you thinking,that's just crazy". To find out later it was actually the Jennifer I knew. It killed me inside.  Sometimes I still think that maybe just maybe you'll wake up from death but, I know that's not going to happen.

   Jennifer was a sweet girl and her smile was the best in crowd and it's just sad to know that she's really gone with Mrs. Ibe. I can't even imagine how the Ibes' will cope with their tragic losses. But, deep down I know that you're still here watching over us and even though you can't be with us phsically you will always remain in our hearts. I keep telling myself it's real, that you're gone but, my mind can't bear the fact that I won't ever see you and your mom again. Rest In Peace Jenny. You were a great person. 
 







          


 

Last year, Jennifer and Jessica came to spend some time with us. We had such a fun time and everyday when we were bored we will start a party. Luckily for us we had a good excuse, it was Obinna's birthday that period (My nephew and Jennifer's cousin). Each morning after the birthday Jennifer and the other grand kids will say, Aunty can we have another party today? and I always said "why not" this carried on for 4 days  until we got tired of partying.


We had to look for another avenue to spend our time and we resorted to going to the beach almost every other day. Being around Jenny was fantastic. She was full of energy and always up for a laugh. She was very intelligent and smart and like most kids her age was always singing all the latest songs and playing all the latest games.

Jennifer was only 12 but she was wearing my cloths and shoes. I jokingly discussed with her mum Nancy also a victim of this terrible crash that there is no need to shop for cloths for Jenny anymore rather I will be transferring my cloths to her, but recent events has proved otherwise.  

I spent lazy days telling them all the things they used to do when they were little and they could not stop giggling, they inturn were teaching me all the "cool things" and telling me which songs were the latest. They showed me their school videos and pointed out their friends in the video for me.       


To think that I will not spend another family holiday with her is unthinkable. I REST MY CASE.