Dear papa, with a heavy heart I pen down these few words to you while you embace your final journey of no return.

Mr recalcitrant fool as i fondly called you, our “happy new greetings” is still ring in my ears especially as you sounded so strong on phone that day placing your request is usually.

Your recalcitrant girl is writing, wishing to pick up those small quarrels with you and to hear those your flattery words “mami, me na only you I gettam oh” next call from another child “Mami, me nekeh na only you di call me oh” I di hear that one them? abeg oh……hhmm Mr flattery, believe papa at your own risk hahaha.

Weeh papa, I know there are some things you wished you could have done differently if they could turn back the hands of time but nevertheless, God knows better.

Papa, we are proud and grateful to be your children. You always wished to be given a befitting burial and for sure we are definitely meeting your wishes.

On behalf of my siblings and grand children/great grannies, we say thank you for being there.

For your other children back home especially Judith, mami Cliff and brother Paul who always stood the gap in our absent, we say thank you for your great job.

For your grand children especially mami Cliffs children who played the role of your biological children in making sure you fed well, dressed well and even supervised the building of your house….WE SAY THANK YOU for love you showed papa. Your grand mother is proud of you guys.

For those who helped in building or destroying this family in one way or the other, WE SAY THANK YOU for the strength you gave us.

On behalf of my son, we say journey well papa. Greet mama and they rest of our siblings who embarked on this journey earlier than we could imagine.

Papa we will miss your humor, we love you but God loves you more. May your spirit protect and guide us as we embrace our fate as orphans.

Adieu papa!