Festus Ijayi had become a man who represented more than just himself but always, I repeat, a multitude, yes, whatever he stood or sat, he represented so many unspoken Nigerians who normally are not heard–Odia Ofeimun

We can never forget. So long as we are breathing. We can never forget the good works of Grace Iyayi, the widow of our late comrade-leader, scholar activist, revolutionary par excellence who was killed by the Kogi state Governor’s convoy on November 12, 2013. We wept. We lamented. We wrote tributes. And we eventually went to Ugbegun in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State and buried Professor Festus Iyayi in his humble abode.

Our great leader, founding member of several front organisations in Nigeria, Russian-British trained academic and irrepressible socialist, a teacher of teachers, a community organser of the first order, Festus Iyayi gave us a living memory of what a patriot-activist should be. A role model, mentor, fearless, and over courageous personality, who defied and denounced the bourgeoisie in Nigeria, for well over four decades.

ASUU was on strike for several months over enduring and perennial trade dispute with the federal governmentand Comrade Iyayi among other ASUU comrades was Kano-bound to the organisation’s national meeting when death came calling. His political activism opened doors on Nigeria’s political space, especially, in the struggle against military dictatorship in the 1980 still the return to the so-called democracy in 1999.

A multiple award-winning writer, self-trained psychologist, management guru and original thinker, Festus Iyayi also founded and ran a Management Consultancy Firm with his intellectual soul-mate and colleague-extra-ordinary, the late Professor Barnabas Agbonifo. The Benin-based Centerpiece Consultancy, became the hub and rendezvous for left-wing political elements Nigeria, Africa, and disporean comrades in Europe, Asia andAmerica who visited Nigeria.

A selfless human dynamite, unassuming and with no airs, Iyayi made his house and other valuables available to comrades, in the service of Nigeria. Iyayi dreamt of an egalitarian Nigerian society, where no child will be out of school, where no person will go to bed hungry or trekked several kilometers to get to work or their business places. He dreamt of a Nigeria, where citizens are free to worship their God, and express their opinion without hindrance.

He envisioned a Nigeria, where no man or woman is oppressed. The man died and the rest of us; his followers, his peers, his students, his leaders and comrades were left to mourn him. We were deprived of the services of this intellectual giant, an original thinker, one whom Antonio Gramsci would describe as an organic intellectual. We lost a patriot, a pan-Africanist and world class revolutionary.

But God will always be God. And so, Iyayi left behind his spouse and children who today are doing well in their chosen endeavours. We can only thank God that Iyayi, in the mould of Walter Rodney, Samin Amin, Andre Gunder Frank, Mohammed Babu, Amilcal Cabral, Alao Aka Bashorun, Gani Fawehimi, Mowugu Okoye, Ola Oni, Eskor Toyo, Bade Onimode, and countless other African radical intellectuals was an amiable family man who loved and demonstrated enormous affection for his family. If you were close to comrade Iyayi and his nucleus family, you would learn one or two things about “how to build a happy home.”

Today, we celebrate his widow, Grace Iyayi. This indefatigable woman–beautiful outwardly-physically, and beautiful at heart, she would always prepare food and drinks for visiting comrades. During some wee hours of meetings, Iyayi would wake up Sister Grace, as we fondly call her to prepare food for comrades who arrived late in the night, travelling from different parts of the country.

Some of the comrades are now kings, parliamentarians, senators, professors, senior advocates of Nigeria, renowned medical doctors and top-ranking politicians. Yet, Sister Grace, the matriarch of the home would come out unfazed, undaunted and ensured that comrades were happy and comfortable during meetings in her husband’s house. We cannot forget the humble services of this true, original African mother who fended and catered for her husband’s political associates. We cannot forget her interventions at critical moments when some of us, younger and upcoming comrades had challenges with securing job placements in the public and private sectors. We cannot forget her admonitions to us to get higher education to be able to hold our heads in society, and be competitive. Of course, Iyayi was always a master, and a constant at getting comrades to return to the University for higher studies.

Indeed, Festus and Grace insisted I must pursue post graduate studies at the University of Benin. Several other comrades, some of whom are now occupying full chairs in the irrespective universities were commandeered back to school by Festus and Grace.

Today, we can only look back and tell Sister Grace “We are grateful.” You saw tomorrow.

As this amazon turned 70 last October, there were great tributes from patriots all over the country. She had retired on due time as Director of Administration at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) where she touched lives with her services. We salute this great woman of faith, who is unrelenting in the service of humanity inspite of the violence and pains which agents of the deep state in Nigeria Inflicted her family.

An avid and redoubtable Catholic, Grace Iyayi has remained a strong pillar in our struggle for a liberated Nigeria. She has remained evergreen in the service of humanity. We are grateful to God Almighty for rewarding her and Iyayi with responsible and very hardworking off-springs.These off-springs have rekindled hope in her and her larger family Iyayi did not toil in vain. Indeed, Iyayi’s labour is not in vain when we realise that all Iyayi brought-ups across Nigeria today are to be counted tall.

Once again, we salute Grace Iyayi, a woman of gold and steel, a woman of candour and a true, princess of the contemporary human species. We pray God Almighty to grant her more years of self-fulfillment, and service to humanity.

Prof. Oriakhi is with the Department of Political Science at the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State.