It's been a whole year without your enlightening posts and cheering banter with friends on Facebook. It's been a whole year of watching your sister, my friend M'ember, grieve, it's been a whole year of knowing I can't call you if I need some advice on whether or not to take legal action on something that's going on. It's been a whole year!

May God in his infinite mercy continue to preserve your soul in peace and grant those you left behind the much needed comfort.

Mike, it's so hard to believe you've been gone for a whole year! It seems like just yesterday that we were talking about my book and how you'd get it!
May God continue to comfort those of us you left behind.
Sleep on, Mike.

My dear friend, Michael, I still can't believe you're gone, no word from you for a whole year fa !
It is so not real, i see you in everything around me, i laugh or shed a tear most times when i come across a joke, one you normally would have shared with me, sometimes i ask myself 'are you sure he didn't just pull a big prank on us ?
The world seems a bit emptier without your infectious laughter.
The Angels will sure have a swell time with you out there.
I feel so blessed to have called you my friend, and I am forever grateful for the short but precious time of knowing you.
In your words ' time heals pain' I trust that the pain will gradually go away.
Continue to rest in peace with your maker boki wam.

The past few weeks have got me reading and pondering over messages you sent to me, conversations we had that are all now beginning to fall in place.
Dear Mike, I wish you could find a way to reach out to me. I know you can because you had moved to a higher realm before your physical passing. I know you're watching me and you know that we need to talk.
Dear Mike, I'm trying hard to move past this phase but it's not working.
How are you my friend?

Sir,

To say I am deeply pained by your passing is an understatement.

I first met you at Barr. Ayoh's book launch in 2018. Though I knew you only briefly, your life was a lesson in humility and kindness.

You demonstrated excellence in all you did, and you recognized and appreciated same in others.

You treated all with love and respect without regard to tribe or status.

I am ever grateful for the opportunity I had to meet you and interact with you.

I pray that God may console your family and friends and grant you eternal rest in his kingdom.

Dearest Mike, it is painful to hear of your demise. You were such a kind fellow I remember all the opportunities you gave me to attend trainings that were absolutely free. I feel so had that I was hard on you in your last days. I never knew your attitude was a sign of something abnormal you were going through.
May God rest your soul and grant you merciful judgement my friend. Rest on... You need to.

Mike Utsaha dies at 53!!!
( 5th May,1969- 14th March, 2023).
I remember 1st August,2021 when we met at the Good Shepherd Catholic chaplaincy, Makurdi at the fund raiser of Mr. Francis Tsav , that was cancelled for the following week that I couldn't make it hence my resumption Saturday.
Tuesday, 6th August, we attended Mrs. Regina Achie Nege's book launch at the NUJ house, Makurdi.
Afterwards, a book launch in Aliade, Resource and Planning Commission,book signings, valeditory court sessions and many other wonderful outings we had and fond memories we shared where i got the opportunity of meeting Ageh Vin Kunav ,. Ater Benedict Benedict, Doofan Anakaa  Tersoo Joseph Abatyough and many other personalities that today mourn your death.
I am very sure that no matter what happens,or no matter what anyone tells me i am going to mourn your death for as long as possible. I was certain that you needed help . I remember someone saying people been after your life and so on....
By the grace of God, i will be graduating this year from secondary school and head into the tertiary institution where i will start the process of actualising my dream of been a lawyer, the dream you have continuously encouraged me to work hard towards becoming as i am destined to been a lawyer and no one else.
Now that you are no more, who will fill this vaccum you have created in my life
I miss you so much i wish i joined you in death but Hey, i have a long way to go in life. I have my own future to build and live a legacy that will surpass what you have done.
I promise to make you proud that even in your death you will be proud of the man i have become.
Continue to intercede for all of us you have left behind that God should keep us and make us come to terms with the fact that it is indeed the will of God that you return to him who is your maker the author and the finisher of your faith who you have gone to rest eternally with him in the place of no pain and torture physically, emotional, psychologically and other wise.
I miss you so much Mike Utsaha and I wish you stayed longer .
53 is too young, but who are we to question God?

Dear Uncle Mike,
I am still yet to come to terms with the reality of your passing.
It breaks my heart to have to refer to you in the past.
Thank you for all the support you have for every project I embarked on and called on you for help.
Thank you for always letting me know I'm a shinning star, a role model and for the blank cheque you gave me to always come to you if there was ever anything you could do to help.
May your kind and gentle soul rest in peace till me meet again on resurrection morn.

Mike, I cannot believe I have to write this because someone as full of life as you has left us. Ever since we first met at the small CDD office in Abuja nearly twenty years ago, you have been a wonderful and dependable friend. You opened up your life & your home to me on so many occasions, and we travelled together to investigate conflict and suffering of others because a sense of justice was always at the heart of who you were and will always be, alongside your good humour, resilience & dependability. Through you I met your family and so many other wonderful people who will all miss you hugely. Man, it was fun too. I wish you hadn’t gone. Rest well.

I post this with a heavy heart. Eighteen years ago we studied together at the Central European University in Hungary . U were the big brother of the group of ten. With your infectious laugh. This is a great loss. But God knows best!
Heartfelt condolences to your family.
Rest well brother and may Light Perpetual shine on.
Open Society Justice Initiative Fellows class of 2005 and the Central European University, Legal Studies Department 2005 send their condolences to the family and say Rest In Peace .

I come here every evening to see if anything has changed. But everyday I see a new tribute from one of your numerous friends and I pinch myself to be sure I'm still conscious.Your best friend asked after you today, I don't know what to tell him because he probably won't understand. I've never been lost for words like I am these days. Kai Mike, you do me strong thing!!! Rest my dearest friend, rest.

I was very shocked to learn about Mike’s passing! We during the early days of The KUKAH Centre! A gentleman to the core. A true Catholic whose faith influence his actions…. No one is perfect, but Mike tried! May God receive his gentle soul and console his family.
Nigeria has lost a great patriot!

My Brother u Nonso..Still hard to believe you've gone.!!!
You will surely be missed. Thank God, our paths crossed many many years ago. And l don't regret knowing you...Mike Utsaha,so vibrant and full of life..May the heavens receive your soul till we meet on the resurrection morning.Za Bem Bem Ooo....

Mike Our last Meeting was at Joy Iweka's Book Signing in Sam and Ngunan Addingi's Residence in Makurdi...You Were so easy to talk to, and I did talk to you that Night, We were to Continue that Conversation Over Lunch, a Date We Failed to Agree On...... Typical of We Humans, We Probably thought Theres Still Time ..Now I am Still Shell Shocked at How Transient Time and Life is ...You are Gone Just like That....No More Banters On Facebook From You to Mchivir Biam and Andy Ayabam or You Looking for Nguemo Kpete's Trouble with your Posts....No more analytical intellectual discuss on Life,Law and Politics...You were Brilliant And Great Indeed......Kai... Mike, You are Gone too Soon..

Dear Mike, all I can honestly say is my condolence goes out to friends and family youvr left behind. As for your deeds 23 years ago, I will leave them to the mercies of the Almighty and allow your memory to live on untarnished in the minds of those who remember you. Rest in peace..

My dear brother and friend
It's still like a dream, I can't imagine you not here anymore.
Michael, Full of laughter, full of life...
Never holding a grudge...
Always willing to listen and advice...

Our childhood memories came flooding back. Too many...
You just left...
I tried to understand how, why....
I didn't see this coming but who am I to question our maker.

May your soul find rest my brother.♥️

Even until this very moment, I still cannot believe that you’re no more. I find myself on the edge of my bed every night, lost in thought. I love you forever and a day more; were a father to me when I had none. How is it possible that you just left, just like that.

This is really hard to accept. This is really, really hard to accept.

Mike, it’s truly painful that you had to leave this way. After our days at SBS Makurdi in 1987, I never got the privilege of seeing you again until I got this heart rendering news about your call to glory. I cherished our friendship then and still do till date. May your soul rest in peace with the Lord, till we meet to part no more.

You will be missed.
May the Good Lord show you mercy and grant your soul eternal rest in His bosom, Amen!

Mike, your passing has taught me many lessons, just like you always offered me advice and guidance. I will not see you again, but the memories of you, I will always treasure. Sleep peacefully, Mike.

To live in the hearts of those you love they say is not to die.
Dear Mike, you are not dead because you live in my heart.
I miss the physical friendship but I will keep the fire burning.
I'm not going to cry, I promise

Tarnongo Utsaha Kpash! Ku kuma sha awe ga cii, tuna ngee gande.

My cheerleader. You believed in me, much more than I could possibly believe in myself. Always ready and asking how you could help. How I wish I knew what you were going through, to listen, to tell you it is well.

Someday I may make sense of your death, like i am trying to make sense of Carol, Justin and your namesake Tarnongo Geebe.
Good night my friend. You will be missed.

Tarnongo Utsaha Kpash! Ku kuma sha awe ga cii, tuna ngee gande.

My cheerleader. You believed in me, much more than I could possibly believe in myself. Always ready and asking how you could help. How I wish I knew what you were going through, to listen, to tell you it is well.

Someday I may make sense of your death, like i am trying to make sense of Carol, Justin and your namesake Tarnongo Geebe.
Good night my friend. You will be missed.

I am still in shock over the news of your death. All of us at Concerned Women International Development Initiative (CWIDI) were eagerly waiting for you to get well so we don't have to look for another barrister to anchor our human rights trainings again. Your sessions were so full of life such that, there was no need for ice breakers because you already carried fire and life into each session. I worked with you just briefly but the mark you left in my life and our organization can never be forgotten. You have left a vacuum that will be difficult to fill but God knows best. Rest in peace.

Mike; that there is only one life to live would ever remain one of the most painful realizations; else we would have wished you come back to us, we however take solace in the fact that where you are resting with the Lord, we shall meet never to part anymore. Adieu.

Tarnongo, I promise you I'm not going to cry. I promise

Tarnongo, I loved our fights, philosophical and legal arguments. Above all I loved it when we talked about our childhood and our parents long lasting friendship. I teased you a lot about being everyone’s sweetheart. I saw you as my kid brother which you never wanted mentioned. As a kid you were everywhere with your dad who was always proud to show you off. You’ve dealt all of us a blow below the belt. It hursts so much to say goodbye. You served God genuinely and with a passion you defended the church. May all your good works and faith take you to Our Lord Jesus Christ where you’ll live forever and ever amen.

Still trying to comprehend.... Our regular meeting joint used to be Sahad stores and you will always pay for my goods. My Big Bros, My Caus. Just like that? Rest in perfect peace.

Mike, it's so hard to believe you are no more. From when we met in the famous Lagos B4 in SBS right through the university of Jos, you're a jolly good friend. There never was a dull moment with you. May God comfort your family and all of us who knew and loved you. Greet Taryann, Mark T, Terhemba and Koach who left before you.

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,may God hold you in the palm of His hand. Rest In Peace Miko

Beyond crying I am speechless!
I am numb! Haba my Uncle Mike!
You were my Big Brother I never had!
Then you left me stranded
May your soul rest in perfect peace, AMEN 

Nancy Katsina-Alu.

I received the unfortunate news of your death with great shock. We met recently and you didn't appear as someone that will leave us soon. As President of the CMO, I invited you as a guest speaker for our CMO week. You came and gave us a wonderful talk that was centered on God's mercy. You took time after the occasion to praise and encourage me. We had another talk on Prostate Cancer and you still came, you again took out time to encourage me. I still hear your kind words of encouragement. May God look at your soul with mercy and grant you eternal rest. Rest in peace, big bro.
Dr. Stephen Akuma
President CMO
Catholic Youth Center Parish.

Dera Micheal Tarnongo Bokon Utsaha,
You were truly a good friend.
Andrew Ayabam, Charles Erukaa, Jack Gberkon and I were younger but you took us all in as friends.
We fought, made up, fought made up, fought and made up but the bond of friendship grew stronger.
May the wise one allocate you one of dem mansions he spoke about in John 14:2
Yav Dedoo SAA kper Tarnongo wangom.

Dear Mike, I am speechless and can 't really comprehend your passing on. May the angels welcome you home and God grant you eternal rest and your family comfort.

Michael you were different things to everyone, but you were everything to me, I have experienced painful deaths recently, but the pain of your death is unfathomable to me, I have searched in the deepest to understand why you will leave now, you shared plenty of dreams, you had so much unfinished, maybe that's my human understanding, you most probably had finished all that the Lord had set for you to do here, all I ask of him is to make you an angel over us your loved ones.
You thought me so much and I promise I will put all to use, I will make sure not to fail you.
I love and cherish every moment of our friendship.
Rest in peace my forever Friend.

Uncle Mike, you left us at a time we needed you most. You always encouraged me to the best I can always be and I should never forget about my roots and people I grew up with.

May God rest your soul and give us Peace. It is well. Rest with the lord.

Rest in perfect peace Mike Utsaha. It's hard to believe you are no more but God knows best. Till we meet at the lord's feet.

Mike, I am struggling to type this because I can't stop weeping. How could I have known that 2020 would be the last time we will see, talk, laugh, and hear you say "TT de daan", followed by your signature hearty laugh when I say something funny or otrageous. You promised to take me to eat luam u shin tine kon whenever I visited, that will never be the case. My darling brother, you were genuine, selfless, humble, and caring, I will miss these attributes. Two weeks ago, it occured to me that I didn't get a message from you, very unusual of you, and you were also silent on social media. I was going to call but I procrastinated, then came the earth shattering news that you had left us. Like several other friends of yours, I feel I failed you at a time you really needed me, I wish I knew what you were going through. I have so much to say but I will leave it right here. I love you, I will miss you, but you will live in my heart forever. Goodnight, and may your sleep be sweet and peaceful.

Chairman as I fondly called you. Can't still believe you are gone Sir. You were an inspiration to me. You made me confident and made me love reading the more. I remember when I read all your John Grisham books on your book shelve. You encouraged me and always told me to believe in myself. Although you gone but I know you are in heaven smiling down at us. Rest on Sir . May God grant the family the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss. Love you and you would forever be in my mind.