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By Oseloka Obaze
We are gathered here to honour and bid farewell Amb. Ejeviome Eloho Otobo, a dear husband to Esther, and devoted father to Ufuoma, Elo, Oheri and Ejiro; who was also, a very dear brother, uncle and friend to many.
As we bid him farewell and grapple with unending questions, we begin to grasp afresh, how transient life is. And of course, the numbing reality; that what we are now, Eloho was. And what he is now, we shall all become.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAs people of Faith, we should accept the present circumstances. We should also find solace in the biblical verse, which says: “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me; for I am returning to the Father, who sent me.” (John 16:16) This Biblical verse uttered by our Lord Jesus Christ painfully pertains to us all. It explains why we are here today. We will no longer see Eloho. But we will definitely be with him on The Day of the Lord.
Eloho is my friend! And will remain so for eternity. My family and I can count a handful of people, whom I consider as my best friends. Eloho belonged to the very top echelon of that list. Our friendship began more than forty years ago. We were professional colleagues as members of Nigeria’s Foreign Service cadre and subsequently, as UN officials.
Even though he was my senior in age and rank, we bonded and enjoyed unfettered friendship. From 1987 to 1990, we were neighbours living in the same building in Midtown Manhattan. We walked to the office daily. In 1988, Eloho and Esther became godparents to our second son Chinua, who is here today.
In diplomacy – a profession that is quite hierarchical prides itself on decorum – Eloho constantly bucked the trend. He was ever willing to share and impart knowledge. Moreover, he had good eyes for talent, and understood the very essence of mentorship and tutelage. Always consistent and true to his unassuming affable nature, he had no problem interacting with subordinates, and counseling them.
Eloho was humane, warm, sincere and inspirational. He was imbued with sharp wit and genuine bonhomie. He was a patriot and great conversationalist. When Eloho spoke people listened. He spoke with conviction, candour and cadence. And he always spoke truth to power. Interestingly, he had a booming professorial voice that required no amplification. Eloho was also consistently jocular. His laughter mimicked his speech, and always enveloped you with warmth, and sincerity.
Eloho was also very cerebral. Collaborating and co-authoring works with him was always exhilarating. He had an acute analytical mind. He was tenacious about research, writing, editing and the veracity of facts. He inspired enquiry; exploration and the dissection of heady questions and confounding governance issues. When he offered solutions, he did so with surgical precision, thus making complex issues seem mundane and simple.
Above all, Eloho was willing to share knowledge, without reserve and always admitted superior logic. He belonged to the class of the very best and brightest in the Nigerian Foreign Service and the UN common system. In his work and personal interactions, he was unceasingly unrepentant in his advocacy for the rule of law, peace and justice.
Eloho had a softer side. Eloho gave others encouragement and strength. He always explored new environments in his many travels. He favoured flowers above expensive gifts. He favoured hunter green ties –which he claimed was “a constant reminder of the need for a safer and cleaner environment.” His favourite beverage was also green tea. His greatest peeve was an unpolished shoe. He once told me that his first evaluation of a prospective employee was their shoes; he also took them to lunch and watched if they added salt to their meal before tasting it. That was a decision making evaluation methodology.
Eloho and I had been writing partners since1994. In 2018, we decided to write a book on governance in Nigeria; then Covid intruded. Now I’m saddled to complete that work alone. Since 1987, Eloho and I had a monthly lunch whenever we found ourselves together in New York. On 10th June 2022, Eloho and I had our usual monthly lunch in New York City to discuss our book and Nigerian politics. Alas, unbeknown to us, it was to be our last lunch.
In bidding farewell to my dear friend and a brother from a different mother, we share deeply in the Otobo’s family loss of a very unique, brilliant, selfless and wonderful person. Eloho was a great gift to his family, the Isoko community, the Tuckahoe community, Nigeria and to our humanity.
Our lives have been so much enriched and made better for having known Eloho. He touched far more lives than I can ever begin to recount. We know that as he arrives at the gate of Heaven, all the angels will be there to welcome him; for he was a man without a modicum of guile.
Eloho’s passing diminishes us all. But we know that he is looking down on us, with that assured glare in his eyes. We are reassured that whenever we are confounded, we shall continue to hear that cherished and reassuring jocular voice of yours, saying, “All is well.”
Indeed, we mourn, but we also know that all is well. We love you Eloho; and we miss you dearly. Adieu my dear friend, and brother. We pray to the Almighty God to grant you rest. Amen.
