(Being text of a tribute by the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Prime Business Africa, PBA, Dr Marcel Mbamalu, to the late Amb. Eloho Otobo, before the New York congregation during the Memorial on Friday, August 12, 2022)
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IT’s sad that, as we gathered here today, we’re compelled to speak about Ambassador Ejeviome Eloho Otobo’s good works in the past tense!
In as much as we, at Prime Business Africa, concede that this is what mother nature compulsorily makes of all mortals, Amb. Eloho’s case still remains a hard pill to swallow.
It is even much more difficult for me on a personal level, considering the special and professional moments I shared with him for six (6) of my 16 long years as Editor at The Guardian Nigeria, and later as CEO and Publisher/Editor-in-Chief at Newstide Publications Limited, publishers of Prime Business Africa (PBA), where, until his death in June 2022, Eloho was a Board Member.
In making these brief comments today, it’s indeed apt for me to again align with the eternal truism resonating in the words of Francis Bacon, an English Philosopher and statesman who served as Attorney General and as Lord Chancellor of England and whose works are seen as contributing to the scientific method and remaining influential through the later stages of the scientific revolution: ”If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end with doubts, but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties”, Bacon said.
Indeed, ‘Prof’ as I fondly called him, lived those ‘Bacon’ words in his personal and career life. His solution to every work challenge begins with a question, and in a moment, ‘Prof’ will proffer solutions. As a diplomat, he was an extraordinary communicator, avid researcher, compelling writer, eagle-eyed editor and articulate speaker.
‘Prof’ was, above all, an expert in human relations. His attention to detail was legendary! Ambassador Otobo never left anything to chance; and the certain indelible marks he has left in the lives of his wife, children, colleagues and friends through quality relationships and hard work are all evident in the mind-blowing testimonies trailing his demise.
Only 24 hours ago – precisely on Thursday, August 11, the Board and Management of our company in Nigeria organised a virtual colloquium to honour this great Nigerian diplomat, and we had quite some bucketfuls of genuine testimonies from his friend-turned brother Ambassador Oseloka Obaze and his other colleague diplomats, including Ambassadors Joe Keshi and Akpata, among many others who were all livid with kind words about Eloho Otobo’s life well lived to the glory of God and good of mankind.
‘The Africa of Ambassador Eloho Otobo’s dream’ – the topic for that ‘Tribute Thursday’ speaks volumes of what the man in whose honour we are all gathered here in New York, stood for. He was indeed an expert in African Diplomacy, Trade and Policy Governance.
Nigeria’s Presidential Spokesman, Laolu Akande, who at a time was The Guardian Correspondent here in New York when I was heading the News Desk of the newspaper’s weekend (Sunday) title, also spoke glowingly about his personal experience with Ambassador Otobo as a diplomat at the United Nations Permanent Mission.
Honourable Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the chairman and CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) also had tons of kind words for Otobo: ”I heard so much about him and tried so hard to meet this wonderful man but was not able to encounter his personally before he died,” Abike-Dabiri said at the Prime Business Africa Colloquium for Otobo on Thursday night.
Again, how sad for us as humans to say farewell to a good man! Yet, for ‘Prof’, it’s Nunc Dimittis! At 70, he passed on as a righteous man, having also reached the Bible’s benchmark for a righteous life.
Since I cannot be physically here in New York for circumstances way beyond my control, I have requested Reverend Father Vitus Mbamalu, my blood brother and Assistant Parish Pastor also here in New York to represent me and express our condolences to Otobo’s wife, Esther, his son Oheri and his siblings.
As I said earlier, Prime Business Africa, a Nigeria-based Africa-centered newspaper where Ambassador Eloho Otobo was until his death a company and Editorial Board Member also sends its heartfelt condolences to the parish pastor and the Church where he worshipped God for many years of his life.
Again, let me put on record the fact that I met Amb. Otobo when I was working with The Guardian Nigeria as Editor after I did a three-part review of one of his three books on Africa – Africa in Transition – in 2017. He thereafter became more of an older brother than a friend. He was such a wonderful soul… a diligent selfless professional, always supportive and ready to provide answers to knotty issues without expecting a reward.
His attention span was legendary. This explains why I had no problem inviting him to the Board of Newstide Publications Limited as Director and on the Editorial Board of Prime Business Africa, the legacy online newspaper on the stable of Newstide, to serve as a member. As expected, Ambassador Otobo discharged himself creditably among other board members, always going the extra mile to add real value. We miss him so much at Prime Business Africa.
He singlehandedly introduced our PBA Policy Briefing Series on key governance issues and solutions in Nigeria and the rest of Africa. We will also miss him so dearly on this score.
No doubt, Eloho’s was a heart of love and compassion for others. He had a special place in his heart for those who espouse excellence. This is why Prime Business Africa has publicly declared support for the move by a group of diplomats who were his colleagues and friends to establish a yearly Academic Award – the Ambassador Eloho Otobo Academic Prize For Excellence – at the prestigious University Of Lagos (Unilag).
We call on all well-meaning Nigerians and Africans to join in this bid to immortalise a man whose selfless service to country, continent and mankind is to say the least remarkable by contributing to this fund and other well-meaning programmes in Ambassador Eloho’s honour.
His love for excellence as replicated in his contributions at Prime Business Africa, the newspaper company I represent, is agan examplary.
On behalf of the Board and Management of Prime Business Africa, I, therefore, wish Ambassador Eloho Otobo, a friendly and peaceful eternal rest. And to his beautiful wife Esther, and his wonderful children whom he loved so dearly, I say: ‘Your hero lives on; cry no more.
Fare thee well, Africa’s Ambassador Extraordinaire!
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The last lunch: An ode to Eloho Otobo
(Being a Speech Presented at the Memorial of late PBA Director Ambassador Eloho Otobo on Friday, August 12 in New York, United States)
By Oseloka Obaze
Amb. Oseloka Obaze making his presentation during the memorial service in honour of late Amb. Eloho Otobo in New York on Friday, August 12, 2022
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.
As 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 were 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.
