FUNKE OGEAH: ELEGANCE LEFT THE ROOM
You know, if no be say I am a big sinner, I used to have premonitions. That was how last Saturday, something just prompted me to pick up the phone and call my oga, Chike Ogeah. Chike is the very handsome and very tall head honcho in the firm that runs the presumptuously exquisite Marriott Hotels.
How is madam, I asked. Madam had been ill for a bit — about four years — and I made it a point to ask about her health each time I met or spoke to Oga Chike. Madam had been nice to me, offering me two plates of rice at the only family lunch they invited me to at their very beautiful Ikeja GRA home.
“I am waiting for the call Edgar,” he said. “You know the call; you had received it too.”
My heart skipped, there was a sense of closure, an admission that he had done his very best and reclined to the wish of the Almighty. I didn’t want to hear o, I had also received the call and still remembered very vividly how I rushed only to be welcomed with
Mena’s lifeless but still very beautiful body.
So, I changed the topic and started yabbing Flavour, the very talented musician. We talked for a bit about Flavour but Oga Chike came back to Funke. “Edgar, we have done our best. She has been ill for four years and if she must go, let her go to rest. She has fought the good fight. I just came back from the hospital at 4 am, it’s not been easy.”
This was Saturday and by Sunday, Funke had taken her very elegant leave. If you had met her, you would understand what Shakespeare called elegantly breezy beauty. You will not even believe she was a Yoruba woman o. The way she carried herself like a senior member of the British Royal family. Her carriage, comportment and composure used to make me feel inferior. The way she will do her head and nod it when you greet her, extending a perfectly coiffed manicured hand as you greet, you will just go on one knee and kiss her hand and say “My madam, you are so elegantly beautiful,” and she will say “common “getat” of here this very stubborn Duke of Shomolu.”
Oga Chike is now the newest member of our “gang” — those of us who have lost our wives and I was very very happy to hear that senior member, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo was on hand to provide the very muchneeded shoulder to lean on at this very turbulent time for the Ogeah family.
May her elegant soul rest in perfect peace. Kai. Goddd!!!