A Tribute to Dr. John O. Oduh

"Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live."

– Norman Cousins, American political journalist, author, professor, and world peace advocate (1915 -1990).

Dear Doc,

As we spoke, chatted, laughed and discussed as we normally do and even touched those "serious" issues you talked about, I never knew, never had an inkling, never suspected that that discussion at the Clinic would be the last, the very last time I would be seeing you this side of eternity! You asked me to wait for you in the house and I waited, and waited until you called to say you were still busy doing what you loved best - taking care of your patients. I hear that in your final hours on earth, you insisted that they carry you hand and foot to the clinic to attend to an accident victim. You were stitching with shaky hands until even the patient pleaded with you to go home and rest! You were a committed physician with a large heart. You gave your all to friends and foes in your immediate Surulere community. It was the best gift they could ever have or wished for: a caring doctor ready at all times to attend to their health. You practiced your medicine in a loving and caring manner. For you financial reward was not the incentive. Your clinic was the most affordable around your area and for the poorest of the poor you treated for free. You had soothing words for every patient. Your engaging smile, that smile, spoke volumes of love and compassion for all who were privileged to come in contact with you. Now, that smile is frozen in death. Oh death how cruel? How dare you take away our very beloved? How dare you silence the vocal advocate for the poor and down trodden? Dockie, you were never found wanting anywhere injustice, cruelty, wickedness reared its ugly head. You disarmed evil men with your smile, you knocked off presumptuous persons with an unparalleled force of logic too powerful for them to resist. You were magnanimous in victory and in most cases displayed a no-victor no-vanquished posture. Such was your essence, such was your character, and such was your disposition. We shall miss you dearly. Not only us, even Vanguard Newspapers has lost in you one of its most ardent and prodigious Crossword Puzzle solvers. You were a genius in solving crosswords in mere minutes. Such talent!

My family and I remain eternally grateful for all you did for us. On more than one occasion you saved my life - remember the "few trophozoids" that plagued my life? You treated us free of charge for more than seven years. We never knew what medical bills were. You refused our several offers to pay for your services. You knew the value of family. You craved the presence of our family so much it became a ritual for us to come over to your place every weekend. And we had fun. I remember with nostalgia how we crowded your house to the extent we were practically sleeping on top of each other! We ate together, chatted till very late into the night, discussing everything under the sun; woke up late the following day and had those feasts we called breakfast! Memories!

And now silence. You just left. Suddenly. Gone to the bosom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Remember our several discussions on the mysteries of life and death? You remember what we said? I know the Lord has received you. That is my consolation, that is my joy. And until we meet again to part no more, adieu my doc, my friend, my brother.