To Oluwabukola Morenikeji Okordion, a tribute

BY YEMIE ADEOYE

By the time this product is being publicly consumed, the remains of Olubukola Morenikeji Okordion, wife, mother, sister, daughter and dear friend, would have been committed to mother earth for her final journey home.

Bukky, as she was fondly called by everyone, was wife to Ozemoya Okordion of ExxonMobil Nigeria. A fine and very selfless gentleman. One of the silent finest Nigeria has to offer. Bukky was his pillar, his best friend, homebuilder, economic adviser, wardrobe, and investment manager… in fact, she was his major-domo.

After the painstaking experience that was 2020, the scramble for vaccine development and production as well as the controversy that followed, I feel blessed to be alive to see that neither my close friends nor family were deleted by the raging global pandemic.  The feeling of relief when we crossed 2020 into 2021, and when the vaccine availability was announced was so soothing that I never imagined I would be saddled in this same year with the heart-wrenching obligation to write a posthumous eulogy for someone so dear and so undeserving of the cold hands of death.

I first met Bukky in 2006 after being introduced to her by her husband and my dear friend turned brother, Ozemoya Okordion, unarguably the kindest individual I’ve come to know in my adult life. We quickly took a liking to each other, and that was quite easy because of her charming smile and very lively nature. Then again, we hail from the same part of the southwest and that sealed it, as Ozemoya, her husband immediately became my brother-in-law and her, my sister, roles we took so seriously well over fifteen years afterwards.

When Ozemoya was transferred to our nation’s capital and I visited them at their then Lagos residence as they were preparing to relocate, she insisted that I commit to visiting the family each time I visit Abuja, and so it was till this day that whenever I’m In Abuja the Okordion’s would be well informed and aware if I cannot visit them at home, especially as Bukky would accept nothing less.

Sometimes between the end of April and early May 2021, I was in Abuja, and in fulfillment of this practice, I put a call through to Ozed as we fondly call him, and informed him that I was in town but leaving that night for Lagos. He quickly informed me that Bukky was on admission and he was with her in the hospital as we speak. I told him I will come by the hospital when I’m through with my engagements.

I did arrive at the hospital in the afternoon and saw Bukky in her usual lively and very engaging self. “Uncle Yemo” she hailed as usual with that bright, charming and customised smile of hers, as she teased her husband with the words “see my brother now, looking trendy in his native attire and sneakers shoe” we all laughed out loud and started ‘gisting’ as if we had an unfinished discussion that is pressed for time. We talked about everything especially the situation in the country and the dearth of values in our society and of course fashion, especially locally manufactured shoes and clothes.

Bukky never looked ill at all. Not in the over two (2) hours, I spent with her and the husband, The husband actually looked more pitiful than the supposed sick wife.

She was lively, she was engaging, she was everything but sick, hence my utter shock and astonishment when I learnt of her demise just over a week after her husband called to inform me that what we earlier thought was ulcer as I stood in her hospital room in April to hear the doctor announce the test results to her, was actually cancer.

When I received that call from Ozed sometime in September, my first reaction was of disbelief because Bukky had so much life in her to last a lifetime, and giving up just like that doesn’t seem like her thing.

When I regained consciousness, and reality hits me after the call, I quickly sent a message to Ozed asking that he should not hesitate to fly her out should that become necessary as our health sector is grossly unreliable and never to be trusted, especially with serious issues such as cancer. Three days later I called to check on him, hoping for some positive news of hope or development, but he neither took my call nor responded to my message. I kept on trying to no avail until I saw a brief tribute by my friend and colleague Mr Adeola Yusuf on Facebook and I was shattered.

While recovering from the shock of her demise my mind did travel through this journey called life and all the good and sad times we’ve had to share. I did remember when Bukky and Ozed accidentally lost their daughter in 2019, and when I had need to be in Abuja in February of 2020 to host a segment of the Nigerian International Petroleum Summit, I made plans to visit the family to commiserate with them over the loss of their precious child, but that was not to be as Bukky had already sent an invite to me and two other close friends of the family, Oge Udeagha and Emeka Ugwuwanyi to come for dinner at the house. We were hosted to a sumptuous dinner, everything was on the menu, and I marvelled at her energy and positive spirit even in the face of such calamity. She ended up commiserating with me on that night through her very positive and hospitable gestures. That is the vintage description of Oluwabukola Okordion.

She is one of the many unsung heroes in our country. Those very positive everyday people doing everything right in their corner, and hoping a day will come when the government shall be a bit more responsive and responsible towards the basic needs of the society. She will be surely and sorely missed by a beautiful family, relatives, friends, church, children’s schools, community and well-wishers. Of special mention is her dear husband, children and mother. It is my hope and wish that the good lord comforts all these people immensely. Adieu Oluwabukola Morenikeji Okordion. May you find rest eternally dear sister.

Yemie ADEOYE, a journalist, writes from Houston, Texas, USA.