…My son’s death caused by negligence –Mother
By Fred Ezeh
It was a quiet and sober Friday afternoon at the Christian wing of the Apo Cemetery, Abuja, as family members, friends and others, including the clergy and some students of ASACS School, Bwari, Abuja, gathered recently to pay their last respects to late Micheal Paul Ogbe, whose life was cut short on March 1, 2017, in the course sporting activities in ASACS School, where he was a student.
Michael, 16, as an SS3 student of the school, at the time he was being buried, ought to be in the examination hall with other classmates writing the 2017 West African Senior School Certificate (WASSC). But that was not to be. Instead, his remains were being lowered into a grave.
It was gathered that all arrangements had been concluded for him to proceed to Canada after his secondary education in Nigeria, to further his education. But all these plans and resources spent by his mother, Miriam Nnenna Ogbe, who lost her husband 12 years ago, have gone with the wind, as death suddenly snatched away her only son.
Expectedly, there was a torrent of tears, loud wailing and anguish. Emotions took over at about 2:20pm when the body of late Michael was committed to Mother Earth, after a short church service at the Church of Assumption, Asokoro, Abuja.
The family, relatives, friends and sympathizers gathered at the cemetery to witness the burial of the promising lad.
The mother, Michael’s three sisters, Isabella, Barbara and Anita Ogbe, a few of Michael’s school friends and other family members could not withhold their tears. They cried uncontrollably at the graveside and watched the remains of their only son and brother lowered into a grave.
It took the intervention of the Priests that conducted the funeral ceremony to control the emotions of the crowd to allow the late Michael return to his maker peacefully.
In unison, the three sisters of deceased described him as a great asset to their family, Nigeria and the world.
Anita and Barbara said, “He was talented in computer and software engineering, and there were plans to send him to the best schools in the world, where he could get better education and realise his dreams, but all that has gone with the wind due to the negligence of ASACS School, where he was, until his death, a student.
Isabella said, “My brother was the best brother in the whole universe and that’s not a cliché, but the honest truth. He was the lastborn of our parents and the only son. Tall, handsome and intelligent. He was involved in a lot of sporting activities, including track and field, basketball, football and high jump.
“He was a model brother. He was also a laid back person. Although we had our fair share of sibling fights like everybody else, Micheal was like my son and we looked so much alike in everything including our taste in music, food, television shows and love of tech stuff.
“He died at such a young age, with a bright future and big dreams ahead of him. I will miss his text messages from school telling me about his studies. I will miss going out with him, because he was so tall about 6ft7.
“He was the perfect hand bag for us, his elder sisters. I’ll miss exchanging the latest music updates with him and the endless bants on our family Whatsapp group chat.
“He is my blood and, therefore, irreplaceable. I can never forget my brother. He might have left this world but his spirit will forever remain with us till we meet again. May his soul rest in peace.”
Similarly, a school friend of his who pleaded anonymity said, “Micheal was full of life. A promising young man who had orchestrated his ways to succeed in life, thus becoming an asset to humanity through his plan of kindness and generosity to the less privileged.”
Another described him as a goal-getter who set his priorities and pursued them religiously.
“He was a genius who took the lead in all academic and social activities that even others were afraid of. His sense of curiosity and introspection always forced him to question existing processes and try to discover new things and ways of doing things. We would miss him greatly,” he said.
Earlier at the church, the Priests that conducted the funeral mass at the Church of Assumption, Asokoro, Abuja, condoled with the family and reminded them of the biblical verse that obliged humanity to, at all times, give thanks to God whether in good or bad times.
They encouraged the mourners to remain steadfast and trust in God to console them and give them the fortitude to bear the loss.
Meanwhile, the mother of the deceased explained that it was a collective decision by the late Michael’s sisters, friends and family members to bury him in Abuja.
“The sisters and friends wanted him buried very close to them so that they easily visit his graveside and connect with his spirit. It was also late Michael’s wish that he be buried in Abuja.
“His sisters were convinced that late Michael’s spirit would be available to listen to them each time they call and would be willing to connect them to God for whatever request they have. Moreover, Micheal had not visited village since the death and burial of his father 12 years ago. His sisters and friends loved and cherished him very much and never wanted him to be taken to the village, where they might not appreciate and respect his wishes.
“The sisters see him as an angel and they want to regularly consult with him each time the need arises without necessary travelling far. That was how the decision to bury him in Abuja was made. It was in respect and honour of his wish and that of his sisters, friends and other family members,” the mother explained.
Micheal died in the course of inter-house sporting activities in ASACS School, where he was an SS3 student.
A student who pleaded anonymity narrated how the ugly incident happened on that fateful day.
The student said, “Micheal had visited the school clinic that fateful morning but the nurse on duty asked him to go take his breakfast first and then return for medication.
“Micheal, being a child, after the meal, felt a bit stronger and immediately joined his friends on the pitch to play, forgetting that he had earlier requested for medical attention. The nurse, whom he had earlier talked to, forgot to call him back for his medication.
“We were surprised when he joined us in the game. We asked him not to participate since he wasn’t healthy enough but he insisted and told us that he was fine and would visit the school clinic after the sporting activities, and we all agreed.
“He chose high jump, probably because of his height. In the course of the sporting activities, he engaged in high jump and, instead of landing on a mattress that was provided at the other end of the pitch, Micheal, apparently due to his height, landed on his back beyond the mattress on the bare floor and fainted instantly, and that was the beginning of the tragedy.
“He was rushed to the school clinic, which was ill-equipped. The medical personnel there tried all they could to revive him but all to no avail. When it became obvious that they were fast losing the battle, they referred him to nearby Bwari General Hospital, where the doctors and nurses also battled to revive him, until he gave up the ghost.”