Farewell to a dear friend and teacher of humanity
Prof. Edwin Arinze
Yinka and I first met Prof. Edwin Arinze in 1998 when we relocated to Saskatoon from North Battleford, Saskatchewan. Both he and his lovely wife took instant liking to us and adopted usas their children. As a young couple that had in the previous year relocated to Saskatchewan from Liverpool England, we had a lot to learn and to contend with. There was learning to be parents of 2 children under 5, to survive Saskatchewan winter and to eat well. Yes, you heard me right; we needed to learn to eat well. You see, while our 2 young children could survive on the Canadian dishes, Yinka and I were brought up on egusi, apu, ogbono, isi ewu and the like.
Prof came to the rescue. He dispatched his daughters Amaka and Onyinka to put us through. He advised us on the Canadian University system and reinforced our love for academia. He encouraged Yinka to pursue a career with the university system. He provided constant counsel on marriage and what it takes to be in a successful one. He and his wife reinforced our faith in the Lord.
Being a scientist, Prof studied me very closely and came to the conclusion that I was “addicted” to good Nigerian cuisine, particularly Isi-ewu. He did not waste time in teaching me how to prepare this special delicacy that has nourished millions of Nigerian men (and women) for hundreds of years and kept their homes intact. The only complication was I became so good in preparing Isi-ewu that I now do not eat this dish outside my home, except of course when he prepared it, which he often did. We were fond of him and his family. When we decided to leave for Ottawa Prof as always gave his gracious support and unobtrusive counsel.
Prof Arinze came to our life at the time Yinka and I needed a guardian the most. We had just lost Prof Bode Akinde, our godfather before leaving England. We were lonely and far away from home but Prof and his family made Saskatoon a home I have always wanted to go back to. His home was our “homestead”, a place where we went when we needed food for thought or we had thought for food. Yes he fed our brains, minds and stomachs.
We thought we were special “kids” and / or ripping the fruits of the good deeds of our parents, for God to have sent this angel our way in Saskatoon.
You know what? The truth was that everybody was special to Prof. We were all his children and he treated us like so. So when Akin and Bisi, Mansfield and Halima, Jide and Busola, Emma and Vicky and a host of others arrived, where did they all go? You guessed right, the Arinzes'. Did they ever complain? No. Instead Prof did what he knew best, care for us all as if we were his biological children.
During our last meeting at Amaka’s wedding in Detroit, “the boys” had a great time, in fact too much fun. This following is a synopsis of happened,
Prof rented a car and so did all of us. He left his headlights on, the battery went dead and the car won’t start. So we could not leave the venue after the reception was over. We let the girls (our wives, average age = 40years) go back to the hotel in one of the rented cars. “The boys” (Prof included) waited for AAA to arrive 2 hour later, got car fixed and drove back to hotel at about 2am. We then decided to have a boys’ night in Emma’s room.
This was our last night and we had fun. Prof treated us to words of wisdom on different subjects ranging from his happiness about Amaka’s wedding, his lovely family and the value of instilling hope and courage in our children, his Solar business in Nigeria, the Nigeria as a State, the Biafran war, academia, his hope for us and our children, the need to serve Nigeria etc. On and on and on and on we went until the wee hours (5:45am) when Prof suddenly said, “boys I got to go now, I am no longer as young as you guys”. He stood up and he and I, leaving Emma in his room, slowly walked to his door and bade each other good night and goodbye in very long embrace. This was the last touch, talk, smell of Edwin that I had. I can still feel his presence as I write this piece. Just like he ended “the boys’ night” suddenly Edwin ended his journey here on earth suddenly. We all really wish the party will go on but God wanted him home.
We never knew but we now know that Prof wanted to say goodbye in his own way and he did. Our dear old friend and teacher said goodbye with a big and sincere fatherly smile and hog that we will never see nor have again. We had “the boys’ night” with laughter that sound so familiar and so parcefying just like the “good olds” in Saskatoon. These laughter and bear hogs we will never receive here again from you dear old friend and teacher of humanity.
Farewell my dear old friend. We are sure you are happy where you are now. We are sure you are still laughing. We know you are still calling our names “Yinka and Aeeeeeee Geeeeeeeee” but we can’t hear you. We are sure you can hear us. Yinka, Temi, Tomi, Tolu and I will miss you dear old friend but we know that one day we will meet again in the warm lush green pasture with the love of Almighty God pouring nonstop from His fountain of blessings, and the angels singing songs of praise. A place you and us, I mean all of us; your lovely wife, biological and adopted children and friends will meet to part no more. I hear that we do not have to cook, not even Isi-ewu, for we be rejoicing in the joy of the Lord.
But now it is time for you to take a rest and so you should do. Your hard work and sincere love for humanity in general and your country in particular will be your legacy.
Adieu mon ami.
AG and Yinka Ahmed
