On this 3rd day of May in 1996, my world came crashing in on me. Today marks 29 years since the earthly journey of my beloved mother, Chief Lady Janet Ukachi Asinugo, came to a peaceful end. It was Friday. It was a moment that will be etched forever in my soul. A day that changed the course of my life and in consequence, that of our family.
As fate would have it, the following day, Saturday 4th May, in the quiet country home where he was being tenderly cared for by doctors, I stood with Mama’s younger brother – the then Anglican Bishop of Orlu Diocese, Rt. Rev. Samuel Ebo – to deliver the heavily sad news of Mama’s passing on to her ailing husband, my dear father.
His response was to become both stoic and prophetic. With a deep sigh of grief, Papa turned to me and said, “Son, go and dig two graves at once.” And just as if his soul had waited so long, just to send her off before joining her, the following day, Sunday, 5th May 1996, Papa too gave up the ghost.
In one week, our family lost its foundational pillars – the hands that nurtured us, the voices that prayed over us, the eyes that guided us. And on the same day, side by side, we laid them to rest. A father and mother united in life, in purpose, of whom even death could not separate.
The sudden vacuum their departure created was immeasurable. And all at once, the mantle of family leadership was suddenly laid upon my shoulders. It has been 29 years of carrying this cross – a journey of tears and triumphs, responsibilities and resilience. Yet, I have not walked this path alone.
I say this from the deepest part of my heart to my dear siblings: Thank you. Thank you for your understanding. Thank you for your loyalty. Thank you for standing by me when the storms of life shook our foundation. In every challenge we faced as a family – from decisions that had to be made, conflicts that had to be managed, to legacies that had to be preserved – you stood like a wall of strength, beside me and behind me.
Together, we have continued to honour the memory of our parents not just by words, but by living lives that reflect the values they instilled in us – unity, faith, courage, and love. They must be smiling from the heavens, knowing that their children have not scattered and that they have stood together.
As we remember our parents today, let us not now mourn them as those without hope. Instead, let us continue to celebrate two lives that positively touched many, gave much, and loved deeply. May their souls continue to rest in the bosom of the Lord until we meet again in glory.
Rest on, Papa. Rest on, Mama. We still miss you. But we still love you. And you will forever be remembered.
