Today, i finally pick up courage to write this tribute, it has been so surreal and i kept waiting for that phone call to say, it was all a joke. I summoned courage to join the service of songs via zoom but it still felt unreal till the following day, when i joined the funeral service and saw the casket and when it was time for those present to pay their last respect and the casket was opened, i lost it and started screaming, Yinka is really gone, i put a call to Ify in the UK crying and all i kept saying was "Yinka, is really gone".
W met in 2002 in Jos (funny how we are both Jos people and even share some common friends but our paths never crossed) as colleagues in Intercontinental Bank. Jos branch opened in February 2002 and i joined a month later from UBA, met you and Ify as the two ladies in marketing. We hit it off immediately, the three of us became inseperable, we became sisters, we will work, gist, hang out, vent, tease each other and even make the same hair at Chineme's place always. Mr. Ikima nicknamed us "The three musketeers" and we later became four, Omasan joined the branch and was our younger brother and will keep us updated with happenings in the branch while we were out. You were the crazy one among us, warm, caring, funny, mischievous, hard working and you Loved God, our prayer warrior and fellowship leader at the early morning fellowship before work commences. Our organiser, i remember the year you suggested we make our Christmas hampers for customers ourselves instead of contracting it out, Alhaji (Our Manager) agreed and viola, we went shopping and had very rich hampers and saved money for the branch, Alhaji was so pleased with it. Those lunch dates at Beach Restaurant, Juice and Grillade then, Rich bite and the nights out at Afri one and sometimes just the suya and balango spot beside the branch. It was so much fun, remember when Mr. Tor, our head of marketing gave an order that three of us should never go out marketing together or even for lunch, we all had cars by then and we will agree on where to meet for lunch and each of us will drive there and have lunch together and then come back at different times.
Then, Ify got married and was transferred to Lagos, but we still remained close and will chat via intranet with her. Some months later, you got married too and moved to Lagos as well, the branch was never the same again for me, and i was left with the naughty and mischievous Omasan but we were still in touch and will chat almost daily. A year later, i also got married, both of you came to Kaduna for my wedding, Ify with her baby of some few months and you pregnant with your son, such sacrifice. I don't wear make up but you insisted i had to on my wedding day and amidst the protest from me and Ify laughing all the way, you applied my make up and i loved it. Work, husbands, children and all the pressures of life didn't stop us from been in touch, we will talk about our work, challenges, plans and encourage each other, share our joys and successes and all, you were always making it light with your jokes, you were such a blessing and always positive. You were always supportive and encouraging whenever i will complain about my business and all the challenges, you were supportive all the way. You will call me, Tesssyyyy and later Mrs. Ndasuleee, stressing it always. and ask 'Where are you'
The three of us remained close and had a group chat page for "Us three" and kept in touch regularly, i had an issue with my phone and was off Whatsapp on the 15th which was your birthday and also 16th which was Ify's birthday. We would chat and send our birthday wishes to each other on our birthdays and do all the catching up and so i knew i will have lots of messages to read from the chats for the two days but said i will call you on Friday, the 16th and then decided to wait till Saturday, when you will be off work, so we could gist. I never got to make that call and had you on my ind all through Sunday for no particular reason and i have been beating myself up for not making that call. When i got a call from Ify at 7:03am on Monday, the 19th, i smiled because i thought she was going to harass me about not been online and wondering where i was and what i have been doing, i was not prepared for what i heard and didnt even understand how that was possible, i kept asking questions she had no answer for in my confused state. I am still trying to understand.
Yinka, Yinkus, Kuruzi, Mrs. Asagba, our friend, our sister, a beautiful soul, with that warm and infectious smile and like i will say, the toothpaste advert dentition. Its of course not good bye but see you on the resurrection morning, love you so so much. For Ope, your love and your beautiful kids, David, Kintan and Demi, you now have an additional angel watching and guiding you. The Lord will see you through this.
