His Royal Highness Christian Otobotekere
MY LOVING FATHER: A MAN AHEAD OF HIS TIME
My dear Daddy, I thank God Almighty for giving me a father with a heart of Gold, filled with wisdom, love, Joy, and peace, and to crown it all a man of vision and truth. You saw ahead of time and stood firm against opposition to girl Child education and unfavourable traditional rights today.
You were a father to all that encountered you. In my younger years, I thought all Izon quests, friends, and colleagues around you were my direct relatives. You did not discriminate against any person because of status. Truth and hard work marked your every action.
Thank you, Daddy, for the legacies and virtues you bestowed on me. It has helped me tremendously in my work of ministry unto the Lord. It has helped shield my heart from hatred and filled me with love and peace. This is a priceless treasure to me. I appreciate, love and miss you, Daddy.
Who will call me PP, my number one? Daddy, you are the best. Even though you have gone to eternity, your sweet memories will ever remain green in my heart.
REST IN THE SHOULDERS OF THE LORD
ADIEU MY DADDY
Pastor Mrs Preye Isibo
Daughter no. 1
The Man with the Seemingly Impossible Dream
His Royal Highness was a quintessential gentleman, a trailblazer, a lover of his people and people, and a true leader.
I first met His Royal Highness in Shell BP in 1972, shortly after the Nigerian Civil War.
He was one of the most senior Nigerian staff of Shell BP at the time. He was a contemporary of Chief Agama, the father of Diezani Madueke.
Shell quarters in Rumukurushi, in those days, was called the UK. It looked like one and had the UK ambience.
It was full of expatriates, a few senior Nigerian Shell BP staff, and their families.
I went with His Royal Highness to Tombia in 1975. (I was looking for a wife, ooh!)
Tombia was deep in the creek, in the middle of nowhere!
There was no way to get there directly, either by road or by water.
To get there from Port Harcourt, we had to leave our cars at Yenagoa, cross many rivers and many creeks, walk long distances from one village to another, and walk on long stretches of fallen palm trees’ trunks that were laid over marshy swampland. (I fell from one of them into the marsh! This matter of looking for a wife sef, e get as e be).
And yet, despite the remoteness of Tombia, deep in the creeks, His Royal Highness was unwavering in his belief and often declared that it would become possible to go by road to Tombia during his lifetime.
He declared it, believed in it, and worked for it.
And here we are today, that seemingly impossible dream has been achieved.
He was indeed a great man.
And yes, that journey of mine, into the creeks and across many rivers, was successful. I married his very pretty eldest daughter, Preye. And we have four lovely children.
May his noble soul rest in peace.
Dr Goddie O. Isibor
Retired:
- Pro-Chancellor, Benson Idahosa University
- Chairman, Poise Nigeria Ltd
- Group Managing Director (Technical) Nosak Group
Managing Director, Bua Sugar Refinery.
