Tribute to My Loving Father
Daddy, it’s hard to find the right words to express the deep sense of loss I feel at your passing, yet I’m grateful to God for the long and fulfilling life you lived. You were one of a kind – genuinely loving, kind, and generous. Your heart was large enough to accommodate everyone you met on life’s journey.
You loved our family, both nuclear and extended, so dearly and unconditionally. With you, family was family, and nothing less. You looked out for us and were very proud of us. You proved that a parent can be both a friend and a parent successfully, decades before it became common. With you, we were free. You were our Father, friend, and gist partner.
I remember the many questions I asked you, and how you’d indulge me each time. You paid attention to our likes and dislikes. I recall how you’d tell me you bought wara (Milk Curd) for me whenever you traveled to the North, saying, “Wara ni mu omo fulani dagba” (“It’s wara that makes a Fulani child grow”).
We saw how you loved and respected people regardless of their background and social status. You believed everyone is valuable. You and Mum loved our friends and warmly welcomed and entertained everyone who stepped into our home in our names, even when we weren’t there. You related effortlessly with people of different generations.
Daddy, you were blessed with an incredible recall ability. You narrated stories—personal, social, and political—with dates and locations. You were my first current affairs teacher. You were extremely generous, genuinely loving people and would do anything within your means to help them. You were resilient, never giving up in the face of adversity.
You remain an inspiration of what it means to be a loving, good, and kind person. We miss you deeply, Daddy. Thank you for demonstrating the love of a father. You are unforgettable and irreplaceable. We thank you for the beautiful memories you left us with, etched in our hearts forever.
Since your transition, we’ve been blessed with the comfort of the Holy Spirit, love from family and friends, and intriguing stories of your good deeds. My consolation remains that you’re in a better place, enjoying eternal bliss.
Okun Baba.
Forever your girl,
Tiwalade, Daughter
