We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of your father. We have fond memories of time spent with him and your family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this very sad time. Duncan, Sheila, Wendy and family. Xx

Raymond Akporiaye - Uncle you were a father to ALL. Your tender heart reached out to everyone of us. You were a bridge builder, a unifying factor and a philanthropist extraordinaire. You rebuked us when we did not get it right but never for once did we feel the need to stay away. Before your call to glory, in the heart you always carried towards ALL, you occasionally reached out to us asking about our well being and emphasizing the need to build family and not grow apart. You may have left but your legacy will never leave. We love and will miss you. Your departure tend to remind us that life on earth no matter how long in our own eyes, remains fleeting and nothing compares to eternity. We take solace in the fact that your love and service to Almighty God has necessitated His call for you to come rest in glory with Him. Until we meet again before Almighty God's feet never to depart again, rest WELL UNCLE (tears!!!)

Uncle, you were good company, all the times we met in New York, particularly, sharing our (heated) passion for Nigeria's socio - political development, over Heineken beer. With nostalgia, you reminisced the great promise held by Nigeria at independence, until it was truncated by the inordinate ambition / greed of the ethnic -
driven politicians, that led to a needless civil war and it's dire consequences; that we're yet to overcome as a nation. Pity, you didn't live to see our country get out of the morass of this self -inflicted under -development, (fifty seven years post independence) which painfully, may not happen in my lifetime too.
However, we thank God for the quality of life you had; the quintessence of a happy family - blessed with a loving and dutiful wife, my aunty; very caring and dependable children; and adorable grandchildren - may your soul rest in peace.
Norbert Esenwah

Adekunbi Rowland

Dear Papa as I call you. I met you twice but those meetings left something in my heart. You were genuinely surprised when I curtsied, knees to the floor on our first meet and on our subsequent meetings, you would wave a hand and hurriedly say " please get up, get up, my dear "

Meeting and knowing my dearest friend, your daughter Doseke over the years already attested to the fact that she had good Father. You could just tell.

Whilst doing up the house in Warri, you would check up on me, ask if I was okay, ask for the progress status of our installations and off course end off with " please where is Mummy?" as your eyes roamed round looking for your beautiful Wife, dearest Mama whose strength leaves me speechless. I was genuinely tickled that you were constantly searching her out if she was away from you more than a certain period of time.

You had this glint in your eyes and that half smile that said you knew what was going on even when your head was buried between the pages of the newspapers.

When you shyly asked Dos to give me some money on my first return trip to Lagos from Warri and she insisted you do it yourself. I received the cash on my knees with thanks as my heart filled up and I shamelessly started bawling like a nanny goat afterwards. It was a symbolic moment for me.

I lost my own Dad a year ago, my grand father many years before and hadn't received anything from the former even long before he passed. That simple gesture( receiving a gift from a Father) filled a void my heart had carried for many years. For that, I thank you Papa.
It was an absolute pleasure meeting a fine, distinguished, gentle man such as your self.
Rest now...

P.S: mine is probably longer than close family members but....

To Grandpa

Hi Grandpa it's Lat. I wish I came to see you in Nigeria. Thanks for all your presents, I will miss you.