By Sam Akadoro
Special Correspondent, Sapele
Essayist and poet John Donne in one of his numerous poems said, “Delta be not proud, though some have called thee mighty and dreadful but thou art not so for those whom thou thickest thou dost destroy… One short sleep past shall wake eternally and death shall be no more, Death thou shall die.”
One of the many tributes that showered on the late Barrister Nawe Eric Akporiaye, who departed the so-called sinful world, was that of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State. Uduaghan, who was said to have flown in from Abuja because of the burial ceremony, lauded the life of late Akporiaye, which he described as that of appreciation and worth emulation by all.
According to the governor, “l appreciate and celebrate with the family of the Akporiaye for Barrister Name Eric Akporiaye reaching the age of 93 years before the end of his earthly sojourn.” He said his relationship with the Akporiaye family started when he met his colleague in the medical profession, Dr. Leslie Akporiaye, whom he described as a thorough professional and a dependable medical doctor the then Eku Baptist Hospital at Eku. He said that seeing and being attended to by Dr. Akporiaye was the journey of any patent to his or_ her recovery from the sickness, describing the coming of Dr. Akporiaye _to the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, as redeeming. Uduaghan noted that without his professional and managerial skill, all the breaking through and acknowledgement the teaching hospital had got worldwide would not be possible. The governor added that the late Barrister Akporiaye lived a life of dedication and professional not just for his children, pointing out that the late Akporiaye represented the generation of Warri indigenes, who lived in unity, adding that the relationship between the Urhobo and ltsekiri was marvelous and the phrase “Warri boys and girls” was acclaimed. He said that it was necessary for the indigenes of Warri to cooperate and collaborate with government so that the infrastructure development going on is sustained.
Reverend Justine C. Okoroje of the First Baptist Church, Warri, and the chairman the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Warri South Local Government Area, described late Barrister Akporiaye as a man of principle and destiny. Okoroje, at the service of songs at Akporiaye’s residence at Upper Erejuwa Toad, Warri, said though Akporiaye was not alive but people were testifying about his goodness, noting that as they were celebrating a man who impacted positively on the lives of the people, he admonished them to tailor their lives according to the ways of Jesus Christ.
Okoroje said that life is temporary and there is the need to recognise the essence of life, which he said is to know Jesus as the Lord and Saviour, adding that with Jesus in our lives, we can impact positively in society.
In his sermon entitled “River of life” at the First Baptist Church, Warri, Okporoje said for man to grow plant, take care of cattle, he needs water and for man to settle in any place, he prefers where there is water, adding that the water of God is a very precious means for the transformation, healing, divine intervention and for the grace of God. He noted that the Bible says in John 10: 10 the thief comes to steal and kill… but God said that man would have life in abundance in Him. Okporoje said that men need Jesus in their lives, particularly inNigeria so that the maladies besetting the country can be overcome. He said that Jesus is the hope of man and will not disappoint when you call on Him. “Your greatest decision is to give your life to Jesus,” he concluded.
In numerous tributes, the children of Lawyer Akporaiye poured out their hearts to him. They described him in a superlative language and commended his style of mentorship. For Dr. Leslie Akporiaye, his father was an epitome of a private person, a charming gentle man, a conscientious and principled lawyer and a secret English man. According to Dr. Akporiaye, these characteristics governed his relationship people, his children and family members. “He avoided possible involvement in other people’s lives always with the explanation that you should make your own choices; I craved mentoring from him, that did me good because I am self-reliant.” Dr. Akporiaye, who is the Chief Medical Director of the Delta State Teaching Hospital, Oghara, Delta State, said his father was a charming gentleman to everyone, always courteous, non-confrontational, polite and a willing mentor. He added that when he graduated from the medical college and sought his father’s advice, he told him to work diligently at his profession to guarantee successful life and self-esteem, stating that keeping that advice has been an obsession with him. He pointed out that he remembered his father’s boat trips to picnics in Escravos, the bird hunting on the way to do cases at Akure, Kwale, Oleh and rememberedbeing taught how to knot a tie and his introduction to the wolf cubs and boys scouts and the camping trips in Enerhen village. “Growing up and listening to BBC news and comedy shows with him on his radio on lazy Sunday mornings, even though I did not quite get the British accent; eating those un-African British foods like cornflakes, banana fritter, wheat, and spaghetti for the first time; they were all acquired tastes at the time but I have gotten to love them,” he said.
Dr. Akporiaye said watching his father eat was a treat, adding that “his gusto for a good meal prepared by my mother was unmatched especially when it contained lot of meat, the trait has since been passed on to his children and grand children”, at _adding that he could have been a judge several times over but was _unwilling to sell his soul for it. He said that his father made_ this trait the core of his existence and inculcated it in his _children, hence he is very grateful and proud. __
Violet E. Awotwi, who went poetic entitled her tribute “To a great man, a loving father and my best friend”, waxed “I thought about you with love today … unknown, I thought of you with love today but that is nothing new, I thought about you yesterday before that too, I think of you in silence, I often speak your name_all I have are memories and your picture in frame.”
Narrating her experience, she said that she woke in the morning of January 29 and felt an urgent need to call her sister who asked, “Did anyone call you” she asked and immediately knew that the news was bad, the news about her dad’s death though not unexpected after many years of ill health hit her like a ton of bricks. She pointed out that while growing up she had a close relationship with her father and got closer after his accident, adding that _she was blessed to know him in ways few people ever did. She said that her father was her confidant and friend always listening, supporting and teaching. She said that she talked about everything to him and did not matter time of the day. She said he was always there for her and according to her, the frequency of her calls lessened as his health grow worse and gradually the father she knew eventually faded away, adding her heart ached when she imagined her father health condition. Awotwi stated further,’’my father worked hard in his entire life and always put in 100 per cent in his work. This was one of the most important lessons I learnt from him, he taught me to be self-reliant and to work hard on my dreams, not counting on material things for happiness.” She said that her dad was a gentle and considerate soul with a sense of humour, “he was gentle and reserved, he had a_ distant and serious side that sometime kept those around him at a distance,” she added.
She said her father had better way of ensuring discipline with his silent treatment of people which was more effective than beating anyone, ending the tribute with a poem entitled,“ A limb has fallen by unknown.“
Other children who paid tributes were Roger, Alero, Omagan, etc.
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