Rumueme Kingdom, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Ikwerre Land, Rivers State and indeed Nigeria lost a great son on Thursday, April 28, 2016, in Hon. Ovunda Nsirim. He was the most detribalized Nigerian, I ever met ( I am most reluctant to use this so much abused phraseology).

Although an aristocrat by birth, Ovu, as he was fondly called by all and sundry, was a politician’s politician, sagacious, liberal, caring, most empathetic and a friend to all, regardless of age, sex, tribe, social status or political leaning. It is indeed true, that your brother from the same womb is an accident of birth, and like they say, amongst friends there are brothers and amongst brothers, there are friends.

He was my friend, brother, mentor and confidant. My wife, Lizzy actually called him my master. He was, and more. I did nothing without his input, from building a house, furnishing the house to choice of cars I drove. Most importantly, career decisions, even my office space on Aba Road in Port Harcourt, was leased by him and initially shared with me in 1990 and when my practice grew, he moved out to let me have the entire space.

Hon. Ovunda Nsirim was an astute politician, who was a rallying point for young, up- coming and aspiring politicians and professionals. He groomed and laid foundations for many such people, who are very successful in their endeavors today. He had no room for politics of bitterness, do or die, violence and killings. His, was politics of friendship, building of bridges, and caring for the less privileged, and that was his staying power, hence his capacity to remain relevant at all times. Despite his family background, and his considerable means, he was an embodiment of humility, living a Spartan life style and community living.

At meal times in his home, everybody ate from same bowls. His dressing, save for few occasions, did not depict his considerable wealth. He was a man of his people, never excited about cars, mansions and all of that, in fact, he actually lived in a remodeled family house, and ironically, I have heard comments, like, Ovu did not build a house of his own, and the pity of this, is that these comments have come from some persons that Ovu, to my knowledge, helped to build houses for, paid hospital bills for their families, paid school fees for their children and had even put food on their dining tables.

The point here is that life is about choices, he choose helping the less privileged over self. He paid attention to real issues of life, like education for all, of course his children went through the best of schools around the world. He believed that a good education was the best legacy we could bequeath to the younger generation, and to my knowledge, he would borrow to help parents pay school fees.

He complied with Biblical injunction, that enjoins us to : Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others (Philippians 2: 3-4). I never met a woman or man who was so selfless, and that is why I have called him the special one.

Many will be shocked to learn that we had no blood relationship. It was actually a family relationship, that dates back to our fathers before our birth and inspite of the fact that during the second Republic, my late mother, Mrs Ahuele Cordelia Wali, JP, was a top stalwart of the Nigerian People’s Party (NPP) and Ovu and his father, Nyewe Eli Rumueme, Chief O.N. Nsirim , O.O.N, were National Party of Nigeria (NPN) personified in Rivers State, with Honourable Ovu in the House of Representatives, for Port Harcourt Constituency II, this did not come between our families. I can say with confidence that this was not limited to me. It was the same story with almost everybody who came across Ovu.

A lot of politicians, of local government, state and national prominence, from within and outside Rivers State drank from this well. No wonder so much concern from many when his health deteriorated. Let us not weep for Ovu, the greatest tribute to him, is to appreciate the lesson of his life and upholding his well acknowledged attributes of selflessness, friendship beyond borders, politics without bitterness and his large heartedness.

He has not lived a long life, sadly enough, having pre- deceased both his parents, but I must add that it is not how long but how well. Ovu lived a good life and will be well remembered for what he has done, for he surely will continue to live in our hearts.

Goodnight my brother, goodnight my friend and goodnight my mentor and may your kind soul rest in the bossom of our Lord, until the resurrection morning, when we shall meet to part no more.

Wali is a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association.