<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By Eddy Odivwri<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Somehow, I was deluded by her goodness to forget that she is a regular mortal who must suffer mortality at some point in life. Thus, at nearly 84, I yet assumed that she was still full of life and still had life stretched forth for her. But by 23rd August, 2021 when the final bell of life tolled for her in far away London, I was dazed and struck with shock. She had, until the final ailment that knocked her off our shores, Mrs Comfort Onotakaroma Ogbomo, nee Ifihwe, my very dear paternal aunt, had hardly shown visible sign of an ailment, save the knock-on effect of arthritis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She had been my main stay in London, each of the times I had visited. A few times, I would even miss my way from the airport, but she would direct me home. Over time, the Lewishan, South east London district had become pretty a familiar terrain, all thanks to Mummy. She had been in London for nearly sixty years. Save her eldest daughter, Alice, all the other four children were sired in London.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Given her length of stay in the city, she practically knows the city inside out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In those days of my JJC in the city, my auntie it will be, who will guide me on my daily outings. She knows practically where all the numbered buses go to, including the bus stops where they stop and where they don\u2019t. \u201cIf you take Bus 36\u201d, she would say, for instance, \u201cit would stop you at Debtford\u2026. Cross over to the other side and take Bus 12 to Oxford street\u2026..\u201d, she would direct with clinical accuracy. You would think she had worked as a Conductress on London buses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A couple of times she had practically held my hand and led me to neighbourhood markets where one could buy beautiful and exotic items at cheaper prices. Content as ever, it was not for her the vice of covetousness. Simple but elegant, she was rooted in her culture. The over six decades of stay in London did not dilute her love for her people and culture. Little wonder she was a very active member of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), UK Branch, a body that similarly stood tall and strong for her at her death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mummy, as we often called her, was a super gentle woman who never courted violence nor could stand it. Her mien was completely that of a peace loving person. Slow in speech, she was ever so patient and had a peculiar way of making you feel very loved and welcome. She had her special way of laughing that gives you the ease of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Too many times, one hears of how hostile \u201cLondoners\u201d can be when you overstay your welcome. But never this auntie. She would rather baby me, sometimes to a ridiculous point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her depth of goodness and virtuous disposition is amazing. Years back, whenever she came visiting Nigeria, it would be like a season of bounteous harvest for us. She would buy at least something for everybody, yes, everybody\u2013from the oldest to the youngest. The women usually celebrated the big \u201cGeorge\u201d fabrics she loaded home. She had a hand in everybody\u2019s wardrobe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As you read this, we shall all be gathered in Agbarha-Otor, near Ughelli, Delta State, to bid her farewell in her journey to eternity. I had, two weeks earlier, received her blessed body from British Airways, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos and ferried same to Delta State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That she will be sorely missed would surely be an understatement. Her generous soul supported by her selflessness and love for humanity and peace would be greatly missed. My dear aunty, coming to London henceforth will have to go through several layers of review. Farewell Albacore crescent, Farewell Lewishan, Farewell dear auntie. Good night!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Eddy Odivwri Somehow, I was deluded by her goodness to forget that she is a regular mortal who must suffer mortality at some point in life. Thus, at nearly 84, I yet assumed that…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6123,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[2038],"class_list":["post-6121","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-comfort-onotakaroma-ogbomo"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\n