You Were A Great Pillar, Your Death Is Irreparable, Says Peresine Watchman, In Heart-Touching Tribute To His Late Father

Dad, your death came to me like a dream, and I thought you were just sleeping and would come back alive to say a word of encouragement to your children and Toru-Angiama Community. I thought you would come back before now to tell us the things you saw when you were in the deep sleep.

I am conscious of the Word of God in Ecclesiastes 3:20, which says, “All go to one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again”, but I never knew that it would happen to my beloved father in this ugly beautiful way.

When my beloved father, Double Chief Watchman Eyinimisu was alive, he never discriminated against anyone; he never kept enmity with anybody; he never kept malice against anyone; he never envy anyone; he never accepted oppression; he stood for justice, equity and fairness. He was generous, kind-hearted, friendly, full of wisdom, energetic and indeed a peace-maker.

My father was given the Chieftaincy title of the “Amaebidouowei” (a man who wants the progress of the Community) of Toru-Angiama because of his generosity and assiduous commitment to the peace and development of Toru-Angiama Community.

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My father was a socialist, a lover of traditional Ijaw music especially the music of King Robert Ebizimor of blessed memory and King Pereama Freetown JP. He played with his grandchildren and great grandchildren without segregation.

One very important advice my father gave me when I was about to go to the University of Calabar, was that I should avoid girls and focus on my studies, saying that it’s girls that would chase after me if I focused on my studies and graduated successfully to become a shiny star…

Daddy, your death has opened my eyes to see so many beautiful ugly situations within and outside the family circles. Sleepless nights have knocked at my door; fault finders have knocked at my door, and I have identified the true characters of some persons during this short period of your departure to eternal rest. Holy Spirit the Comforter, I depend on you to comfort me and vindicate me this trying period and seedtime.

Dad, your death has created a big vacuum in the family. What they use father to do has asked me questions; plan has also asked me questions; those who have white teeth are laughing at me. I feel headache every day. I feel cold in a very hot weather, and your death has worn me down. Father, I feel hot outside and cold inside!

I wished Prof. J.P. Clark, Ola Rotimi and Chinua Achebe were alive for me to approach them to teach me some adjectives to write the best tribute for you, Dad. I asked for the muse of creativity to come and inspire me the more to write the best tribute and threnody but my heart is too heavy to be coordinated.

Dad, all the thought-provoking discussions we had and progressive pieces of advice you offered me, have escaped from me to pen down now, because my heart is currently heavy…

“Aku-gbidi!” The “Aruokoloseiowei” of Kumbowei kingdom, have you seen my beloved mother, Anansi Watchman in the world beyond, and told her that all is well with her children, to the glory of God? Have you told her how her death brought so much pain to you and her children, and she should have lived longer?

Daddy, I am in a state of happy sorrow. I am happy because you lived to become the “Amaokosiowei” (oldest man) of Delta Angiama, and you gave your life to our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for our sins, in order to bring salvation to our souls. My heart is bitterly sorrowful because your death occurred at the wrong time and has created irreplaceable vacuum in the lives of your children.
You were a great Pillar and Your death is indeed an irreparable one!

As a disciple of Jesus Christ, I take solace in God and His Word in Psalm 68:5, because He is the Father of the fatherless and Mother of the motherless, and Protector and Provider of orphans and widows. God, may Your Name alone be glorified in my life and family in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Oh God my Father, as I look unto you to be my Father and Mother, may You always show me mercies, and may your mercies and grace always defend me, protect me, connect me to the right persons, disconnect me from unfriendly friends and negative political associates, give me peace, joy, favour, long life, good health, sound mind and all round prosperity and success in Jesus’ Mighty Name. Amen.

Daddy, as your lifeless body will be taken home for burial February 11, 2021, at Toru-Angiama, Delta State, may God have mercies and accept your soul to eternal glory in Jesus’ Mighty Name. Amen.

Your beloved son,
Peresine Watchman.