''....and that is where we will draw the curtains for
today'' The voice of our lecturer echoed through the lecture theatre as he
packed his books. On his way out, he asks almost perfunctorily ''Any question?''
The class is quiet more from the numbness of our minds than the closure of our
lips as it had been quite a long day… Then
from nowhere like the rumble of the first thunder in a quiet rainy night, ''I
have a question Sir!'' Solo's husky voice dragged over 74 pair of eyes to his
direction, staring disapprovingly. However, the discussion that followed from
Solo's questions as always brought life to the class again.
If you knew Solomon who was a 400 Level student of EFC from Delta
State, then you would agree with me that you knew a phenomenon. He was one very
bright chap who had a way of making the world seem less difficult than it is
with his optimistic views on life. This was something I for one enjoyed from
him.
I called him the South-South Genius. Bursting with physical
and intellectual energy, Solomon typified the true example of an academic
scholar. He skillfully juggled his time between helping junior colleagues with
their assignments and battling with the truck load of work we carried in our
class.
In my department we mourn the death of a dear colleague. OAU
has suffered the departure of an extraordinary student. Nigeria's intellectual reservoir
has shrunken with the death of this Citizen and there's no gainsaying that the
World at large has just been relieved of one of its finest inhabitant.
This is not a goodbye piece. Solomon Dumbiri Onyekpe
wherever you'll be, you'll always be in our hearts.
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