Honourable John Ajio Gyuse (1935 – 2002)
Dear Papa,
Let me first and foremost give you the greetings from your wife, Comfort M Gyuse, my wife, Suzzie Gyuse who never had an opportunity to know you, my children as well as my brothers and sisters. We all miss you and think about you even as you left us over 17 years ago.
You actually breathed your last on 20th July 2002, but it was on a day like this (4th October 2002) that we all gathered at the village to welcome you from the mortuary where your remains were deposited for almost 3 months. This was in preparation for your internment on 5th October 2002.
“my son/daughter, I encourage you to take your studies seriously. If you heed my advice, I am convinced that by the grace of God, this little I am giving you would someday give you a good house, wife, car etc., but if you fail to take my advice, you would one day regret your actions. By then, I might not be alive and even my bones would be no more in my grave”
Indeed, it is difficult to forget these dates, because, humanly speaking, I personally thought my end had come. I looked everywhere and saw no succour around me and I remember very well that I openly made a remark that my educational pursuit had already come to an end.
Papa, you were my bridge builder, the foundation layer of my very existence, and you gave out your all to make sure that I and, indeed, all your children succeed. I remember vividly that, after paying any of your children’s school fees, you would give us N500 and say: “my son/daughter, I encourage you to take your studies seriously. If you heed my advice, I am convinced that by the grace of God, this little I am giving you would someday give you a good house, wife, car etc., but if you fail to take my advice, you would one day regret your actions. By then, I might not be alive and even my bones would be no more in my grave”.
These words kept reminding me of my obligations as a son to an icon like you and I kept waiting for the day I would tell you that I made it. Unfortunately, you could not wait to see me through to the end of my academic endeavours, for you died in 2002 when I was still at the College of Education.
Papa, I believe you received a favourable judgement from Heavens, and you are definitely resting with the Lord. Therefore, I would like to tell you that wherever you are, remember that I did not disappoint you. Mum took over from where you stopped and I have now gone through all levels of education as you wished. You wanted me to start with NCE, but after the NCE, which you could not even see me have, I obtained a B.A., an M.A. and a PhD (in view). You sincerely meant well for all your children, but God never allowed you to enjoy the fruits of your labour. I wish you would have still been there to drive in my car, hold your beautiful grandchildren, sleep in my house and eat the little food I could offer you, but NO! you are nowhere to be found in the whole wide world.
Please, as you continue to rest in peace of the Lord, continue to pray for us too. A Dieu Papa! until we meet to part no more!
Your son,
THOMAS ORTESE
MAY GOD BLESS DE WORK OF UR HANDS, U RE STIL FLESH IN OUR MEMORY REST IN PEACE.