Clement Asomugha

A Tribute and my Last Letter to a Dear Cousin & Friend, Mentus As one of the greatest and most reassuring Christian hymns says “Through the love of Christ our Saviour, all will be well……..though we pass through tribulations, all will be well”. Indeed, all is already well even at this sad and painful time. Mentus, you called me a little less than a month before your demise. We had a lengthy discussion. Little did I know that, that would be our last conversation. In that conversation, you informed me that you were going through a number of health challenges and needed my opinion and counsel. First, you told me that your left eye had packed up recently and could no longer see. Of course, I told you that it wasn’t much of a problem as long as the right one was good. I told you that God knew why He had to give us two eyes instead of one, so that when one fails the other could easily soldier on. I reminded you that my right eye packed up 25 years before yours and yet I didn’t complain! After that, you brought up your prostate challenges. I told you I had one too and I’m still going on strong and able. We had a good laugh. Then you came up with your third challenge which you said was a colon issue which was scary and would need surgical attention. Again, I told you that this was not a scary problem to worry about because I too had a similar issue and successfully underwent a colonoscopy investigation and subsequent surgery in 2015 to remove three big but non-cancerous lumps in my colon then. I assured you that there was no need to be scared because through the love of Christ our Saviour, all will be well with you. You can therefore imagine the shock, unbelief and sadness which I went through, on hearing that you didn’t make it! Oh Mentus, I just can’t believe that you are gone, just like that. I remember vividly our childhood days at Central School Onitsha, at our residence at No 6 Old Cemetery Road, Onitsha, our numerous gatherings at our maternal grandparents compound at Nnewi, our uncountable escapades as little children, secondary school kids, graduates, public servants and later as parents. It all seemed like yesterday and to now say it’s all over, that you are no longer going to be a part of it, seems unbelievable, sad and painful. However, no matter the present situation, I know and believe that it is well. Mentus, you were humble, self-confident, a great motivator and mentor. You were also a beloved cousin and friend. We are going to miss you very much. Above all, you lived a good Christian life. So as the great Apostle Paul said in 2nd Timothy Chapter 4 verses 7 – 8, you have fought the good fight, you have kept the faith, you have finished the race. So our hope, expectation and prayers are that the Almighty God will give you a crown of glory in His kingdom as you rest in the bosom of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Adieu, beloved cousin and friend, Mentus.