Mike De Cerutti Osagie pays tribute to  Adolor Okotie-Eboh

Adolor Okotie-Eboh.

By Our Reporter

Erudite journalist cum public relation expert, Mike De Cerutti Osagie has paid tribute to Adolor Okotie-Eboh.

In an emotion laden tribute titled Early Exit Of A Gentle Giant  made available to National WAVES, Mike eulogized the virtues of the deceased.

‘In trying to seat down after days of procrastination, to do a tribute on my late big friend turned brother, Chief Adolor Joseph Okotie-Eboh, I stumbled on an old book on life pragmatic quotes in my study and found these few death quotes very handy and befitting to use on my subject matter

* Death is not the opposite of life, but a part of it. …

*We all die. …

“That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet. …

*It is not length of life, but depth of life. …

*To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure. …

*People living deeply have no fear of death.

Indeed the sudden  and untimely  death of Sir chief Adolor Joseph Okotie Ekotie Ebor-  the  late eldest son of High Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh -a most  flamboyant  politician and one time  Minister of Finance during the administration of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa,came to me as rude shock

The deceased, an American trained pilot, was just 64 and was  full of life before death came calling

I was so troubled but my consolation came from words of king Solomon who wrote in Ecclesiastes 3:v 1 that :”There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:a time to be born and a time to die”

My encounter with the charismatic Adolor was very divine and ended up as huge blessing

In   2015 I had done a most classical special tribute  piece on his late father High Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh -the flamboyant  politician  in a magazine, it drew wild accolades  and when my big friend, cum   father figure, Mr Tex Egbedi CEO Texen Texen LTD (we close circle of friends call him DR TEX)  read it, he was freaked out  by the  very unusual and unexpected tribute I did   and invited me to his home on one quite Sunday evening

After commending me for exposing the good virtues of Sir Okotie Eboh, he  decided to link me up to Chief Adolor who was not only his close friend but also childhood mate

After pulling a call through to chief Adolor I was handed the phone to speak and say hello

To my surprise, the pilot, business man and politician  was to invite me over for lunch at his imposing Boudilon Ikoyi aboard

Before my arrival at the luxurious home, my name was at the gate and was well ushered in

After brief chat and presentation of my work on his dad he called in a cousin and introduced me

Over a sumptuous lunch ,served by a chef in all white attire, we all sat to exchange banters

What  we spoke at the lunch till date still  lingers in my memories, he wanted to know why I love his late dad , nicknamed  Omimi-Ejoh or Ejoh bilele etc etc  , it was a lovely day

For sure, I told him everything was in the article but for the record I told him that till date, no politician or any businessman has the grace, confidence and carriage of his father who always dresses in long robe and followed by his aide behind

I also reminded him that with what I read, his late dad was very loyal to the late Prime minister / head of Nigeria’s government, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa

In reacting to my findings, Adolor was quick to express regret that when mention is being made of his late dad many often look only at his flamboyant side, not concern how his economic policies as finance minister helped shape Nigeria’s future till date

Adolor was a most caring and loyal friend who had no element of pride on his shoulder, he tried to carry his relatives and friends along at all times

A perfect adviser, he  often takes time to listen to peoples problems and tries to proffer Biblical solutions

Once I asked him why he decided to study pilot abroad instead of a more conventional curse, he laughed and admitted that his dad actually sent him abroad to be lawyer or financial expert, but like Fela. He rejected such conventional lane and chose pilot because in his words ” I love aeroplanes and have always been fascinated by flying in the sky

A great soccer buff, his love for Arsenal has no equal and he had travelled many times to England to watch the gunners live

This fact was also testified by his boson friend, Mr TeX Egbedi who told me categorically that Adolors love for soccer has no equal

In his words” Adolor is die hard soccer fancier who once formed The Okotie Babe’s football club, with his money

” His love for soccer had started from our early days in Sapele where football was our only then passion,we all including Chief Godwin Dudu-Orumen,current Edo state sports council boss where all childhood play mates” he postulated

Egbedi was quick to confirm also to this writer that Adolor was a very hardworking business man who loved the best things of life and is often spotted enjoying with his friends the cognac and champagne money can buy- which is reward for the good life

As Adolor begins passage in process to his journey to the great beyond, we pray the good Lord who giveth and taketh life at His desired time grant him absolute rest in peace

Good night Sir Adolor, a good friend and brother to many