EMMA ODIBO: My Last Encounter With Him Before His Exit

By Chinedu Max Egere…

I had received a telephone call from the former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ, Imo State, Chief Chris Akaraonye with a message at that hour of the morning, days ahead of the service of songs in his honour held last week.

Chief Akaraonye, a brother and a media colleague had kept succinct and to the point, quavered to me that Emmanuel Odibo, the vice Chairman of NUJ, Imo State Council and former editor of Announcer newspapers had passed on.

The official statement to that effect credited to Ifeanyi Nwanguma, the incumbent Chairman of NUJ, Imo State trailed the privileged information. It was still hard to be true.

My wife, Violet Chinedu Egere and I, would solemnly engage in emergency discussions of the sad tidings anchored on painful grief. What could have happened to Emma? I had also got in touch with Chief Dr Fidel Onyeneke, the boss and a former Imo NUJ Chairman who is currently the Secretary of Owerri West local government. He confirmed it and withheld not his shock.

The following morning, I was faced with a battle with dysania, inevitably triggered by trauma, all arising from the message that Emma was gone.

I can recall the last encounter with Odibo before his demise. I had visited a Courier Service office at Wetheral road in Owerri with copies of a special edition of a newspaper which we routinely published for my client based in the USA. We would thereafter send the copies to him through the Courier Service for distribution abroad in compliance with our understanding with him. The same client would rely on us for the clips of his online Television down there.

A few seconds after I had sat down waiting for their network to boot, Emma Odibo had unexpectedly entered the place gazing at me beaming with smiles.

Late Emma Odibo

‘What do you seek here, my Vice Chairman?’ I asked him and he quickly responded in his usual calm disposition saying ‘Nnamukwu, I saw your back from afar and decided to stop by, to check if it were you really. It has been a long time’

He sat demurely beside me and we mutually commenced pleasantries which somewhat placed me as a ‘Molly Coddle’. He would open up respectfully in enquiring from me why his application for the membership of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE did not fly for the 202r batch. I however, explained to him how the NGE handles such issues through a screening committee which would receive such from all over the country. He had confided in me that it was his dream to join the professional elite group in his life time.

Emma Odibo

He had also informed me about his health challenges and said he was getting better. We also agreed to meet again, this time, in a more lighter mood where we can stay with wine and snacks. He looked a bit pale and forlorn but he gave an avenue for a solace towards hope raising.

His passing would no doubt, leave an unfillable void in the Journalism community in Imo.

To me, he carried himself along with pedigree and dignity.

His warm smiles, infectious laughter and willingness to show love and respect constituted a plus. I would miss his camaraderie but would take consolation in the knowledge that his roles would never be forgotten, even in a hurry.
Good bye, Emma.

Chinedu Max Egere write from Owerri