TRIBUTE TO A DEAR BROTHER – GRP. CPT. MICHAEL ESENWA AMANYEIWE My “brother” Mike has gone home to God. I received the news of Mike’s passing with great pain and grief. It is true that there is some sort of relief that his struggle and pains have ended, however, it is still hard news to bear. He was such a jolly and lively fellow that he could fill a place with life. We often would crack jokes at our Idumu-Ozue meetings and plan on ways of improving our beloved home of Onicha-Olona, in what is today’s Delta State of Nigeria. My wife and children would always be cheered to see him, and the children, who addressed him as “Uncle Mike”, would only but help a smile once they were in his presence. Such was his warmth and care for others. He was a well-mannered and disciplined gentleman and as such, fitted in well with the armed forces of Nigeria, where he rose to the rank of Group Captain in the Nigerian Air Force before his retirement from active service. Wonderfully, our good relations extended to our children, whom, on their own have stories to tell. It is with great joy that I recall my children Didi and Awele studying the medical sciences in the same period as his daughter, Ugo and even my youngest son, Chuba being the roommate of Mike’s son, Dumebi, all of whom attended the University of Benin. I thank God for keeping Mike as long as He did, and for allowing him see his children settled and become upstanding citizens of society. He will be missed, but now that it has pleased God to call him home, I wish him peaceful repose with The Almighty, and pray that our Heavenly Father keep watch over the family he has left behind. Sir I. C. Ogbue