Late Charles Dillibe Ejiofor Onyeama
We exchanged, over the years, tonnes of letters and books, by post. He would always scribble down the sender as: Dillibe Onyeama, Esq., and the receiver as: Segun Abrams, Esq. Although I had taken his cue to address letters to him along that drift, as well, I had always chuckled at his preference for ‘Esquire’, in addressing himself and me who were both journalists. To my then young and ‘unschooled’ mind, ‘Esquire’ was an exclusive tag of lawyers, but when a wordsmith; a grandmaster of the Queen’s English like Onyeama wrote, how much protest could a protégé like me put up?
Mr. Onyeama and I related so warmly that we eventually decided to keep things simple between us. He called me: ‘Segun’, while I called him: ‘Uncle’.
He wrote for my publication whenever I asked him to. We also did a few writing business and offered some related consultancy services together. In all our dealings, Uncle Dillibe was very fair, unobtrusive, honest and dependable.
In spite of his privileged pedigree and the circle of some affluent friends he kept, he did not depend on anyone. He worked very hard with his hands and brains – till his dying minute!
Although he could easily get into a fit of rage, if irritated, he was affable, meek and harmless.
A grandson of the legendary Chief Onyeama of Eke, son of Justice Charles Dadi Onyeama – the first-ever Nigerian Judge at the International Court of Justice at the Hague, in Netherlands, and; elder brother to Nigeria’s current minister of foreign affairs, Geoffrey, Uncle Dillibe remained quiet and unassuming.
An iconic writer, novelist, journalist and publisher, Dillibe Onyeama was a global phenomenon, rare genius and a grandmaster of creative writing.
We spoke on the phone a few days prior to his sudden passing. Sounding gung-ho and hearty, he rebuked me for not inviting him to an event in Abuja involving me that took place a few days earlier. We resolved that and discussed a business. I never knew that would be my last conversation with him on this side of life.
Onyeama’s award-winning and world-class memoirs, books, articles, publishing business and other works are a glowing testament of his industry, love for country and passion for the arts.
May the good Lord console his children, grandchildren and his other relatives. Special condolences to my one-in-a-million Auntie Nneka, his dear wife. Uncle Dillibe had recently written of her: ‘a quintessential wife, mother and home-maker….’ May our God be ever there for you, Auntie!
Nigeria’s Federal Government and the Enugu State Government should urgently consider immortalising this great citizen and inimitable genius for his myriad landmark contributions to the arts and national development.
Fare thee well, Uncle Dillibe!
You have done well!!
You will always be missed!!!
*NB* : Profound appreciation to the Onyeama family for inviting me to submit a tribute. It is such an honour!
Segun Abrams, Esq, is the Publisher of Fresh Facts Newspaper
