Tunde is gone but continues to live in our hearts!!
Tunde, I still cannot believe you have indeed gone!! I pray every day that I would wake up from this horrendous nightmare……. but sadly it seems this will never be!
I still cannot process this shocking news, I simply could not talk for days, let alone bring myself to put pen to paper to write a tribute to rekindle my memories of who you really were and the principles you stood for. It took me several weeks to reluctantly pull myself together to say these few words about you.
Where do I start from and where do I end? ……….I keep asking myself. The thirty plus years of great memories we share are enormous and overwhelming!
I vividly recall first meeting you at the Federal High Court in Lagos in 1990, where as part of our training program for newly qualified lawyers, we sat quietly at the back row in the court room observing proceedings. You walked in confidently and your presence was felt by all. Nodding politely with a wide smile to the presiding Judge you addressed the court diligently, thus leaving a very positive impression on all our colleagues and much admiration from us.
As we stepped out of the court room at the end of the day’s session, much to our surprise we saw you interacting jovially with the people around and putting smiles on their faces from the food sellers to the hawkers in the court vicinity, cracking jokes and giggling with them as they called you “Barrister Coker! Barrister Coker!” all over the place. Tunde never discriminated nor turned up his nose at anyone. While observing such warm interaction with them, my very good friend & colleague and I looked at each other with “raised eye brows” and chuckled away saying “hmmm… he must be a very popular jingo” and called it a day! Tunde was indeed a man of the people and it was evident!
The next day, on commencing my service at the law office (H.A Lardner ) where I was assigned gladly to serve as a pupil (often referred to as “law office attachment” in Nigeria), I was very much surprised to meet Tunde once again in the office I was assigned to, where unknown to me he worked. Tunde and I became very good friends from then on, he got to know every member of my family, and the rest unfortunately, is now history.
The great fun times we shared, the good old days at Alara, your trips to Accra, London etc. etc., the joy & love, the jokes, the laughter, the changing scenes of life, the care, your comforting voice, and now this deeply seated pain and sadness that simply wouldn’t go away!!!!
I ask God every day since receiving this devastating news, why He (God) who has authority over all things and situations allowed this to happen to such a wonderful, loving and caring person. You had plans Tunde, you had aspirations and dreams, you were generally very healthy and full of energy and vigour. You still had so much work and other things to do, not only for yourself but for so many people. But again this was not to be!
Despite all my questions to God, that still small voice, keeps dropping in my spirit and telling me ‘IT IS WELL!’. I ask how it can be well, when Tunde has suddenly gone. But the voice keeps reminding me that “God’s ways are not our ways”. He knows best, he knows the beginning and the end, for the all-knowing God will never forsake you nor leave you. He surely knows best and ultimately, he has the keys,… the keys that opens all gates to “Eternal Life”. For the flesh can pass away but certainly the “Soul and Spirit will have eternal life”.
Isaiah 55:8-9 (KJV) informs us that: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts”.
One thing I know for sure, is that Tunde, you put up a good fight, oh yes, by the Grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, you fought a good fight, which typically of you, was for a good cause!! You wrestled and defeated the enemy to a standstill and won that battle!! At last you were set free from the enemy……… But ultimately God in His infinite Wisdom, the All-Knowing One and True God whom we serve, crowned you with honour and glorified you by calling you to a much Higher Place!
1 Timothy 6:12 KJV teaches us to: “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”
Tunde, you cared and fought for a lot people, and you were always willing to help others to the extent that you felt obliged to help any and everybody who approached you for assistance. Most times you did so at your own expense and even to your own detriment. You were indeed a true man of the people, a good & kind hearted person, a man of integrity, a firm yet a gentle giant, a disciplinarian and an absolute gentleman who feared & loved God!!!
What we love and miss, is also loved by God, Heaven was certainly “missing an Angel” too, so you were called home to be with your Creator and to serve your God!!
Oh yes, I do take a lot of comfort in knowing from my dream that you are very happy and in a much better & beautiful place, where there is no more sorrow nor pain, and where blue birds fly over the rainbow, as you walk beside the still shimmering waters!!
My dearest & loving TC may God continue to grant you eternal rest until we meet again!!!
Rest well Tunde, Rest in Perfect Peace!!! You will forever be missed and you will forever be in my heart!!
May God comfort the entire Coker family for this colossal loss and vacuum created and in particular may God protect and Guide Yemi, and your daughter Jumoke!
Sleep Well Tunde!
My story: Joke Akin-Taylor!
