In the short time I knew Chief Fred Chike Asiegbu, he left an indelible mark on me. During my recent visit to his remarkable home before returning to Port Harcourt after visiting home for 2023 Christmas, I had the privilege of returning the plates he graciously gave my cousin, Chidi, for his takeaway food. Despite Chidi's hurried departure during his visit, Chief Asiegbu insisted he take the food with him.

Our conversation spanned various topics, from his achievements as a forward-thinking entrepreneur to Igbo traditions and philosophy. Walking through his garden, he shared stories about each tree's planting, his property boundaries, and anecdotes about his neighbors. He graciously introduced me to his younger brother at the family compound, where we were offered refreshments and shown the mini graveyard, each grave marked with the name of its occupant.

Chief Asiegbu's simplicity and commitment to peaceful coexistence left a profound impression on me. He exuded confidence yet remained deeply empathetic. Before my departure, he generously sent me off with an abundance of fruits and i promised to visit again.

The news of his passing deeply saddened me. Ichie Asiegbu was the epitome of a man who should live forever, understanding life's complexities and the importance of moderation. His influence extended to his children, who embody qualities of composure, respect, and intelligence.

May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, find eternal peace through God's grace and mercy. Farewell, Ichie, goodnight. Your legacy of a well-lived life and enduring memories will continue to inspire us for generations to come.

Goodbye to a worthy friend, a legend and a personality par-excellence!!

Ezeanalu, it's yet to dawn on me that you're no more. What a mirage! What an ephemeral life.!! When Chidi called to inform me of your passing away I quickly cautioned him against scammers. How could the person I discussed with two days ago, hale and hearty, with the voice highly distinct and the messages precise be said to be dead? What a wicked world! As Chidi insisted on the authenticity of the news, a terrible cold chilled me from head to toe with all sorts of confusion. I could be then likened to a child who caught a beautiful bird and on admiring the bird it flew away. Oh, a relationship full of enthusiasm but too short lived! Lord, I commend the soul of my friend, Chief, Ezeanalu, Fred Austin Chike Asiegbu into your bosoms. For human fragility, may whatever his shortcomings be passionately viewed for his triumphant entry into Your Kingdom. May the family, friends, loved ones, relations and well wishes be granted fortitude to bear the enormous and weighty loss. Adieu, my friend! Adieu a great one !! Adieu Chief Ezeanalu!!!

Tribute to my Outstanding Grandfather:

Your death has left an empty space in my life. A space in which no one can fill up. I still haven't accepted the fact that you're gone, never to return again💔

I will always remember you because you have made so much impact in my life. The way you taught me to do things properly and swiftly, giving us various books to read, books that educate us culturally, morally, religiously. Your fascinating stories, how you taught me prayers in Latin and how to pray the rosary and the litany of Mary by heart . I will always remember the way you cook before anyone wakes up from sleep and how you somehow figure out what everyone would like to eat even without asking. You are the reason I am eager to travel every year and now you're no longer with me. It pains me so much to write this, who would have thought you'd leave us soon, after we had just seen you in January. I was really looking forward to you attending my graduation, I really wanted to stay with you in the village after my graduation, I already had everything planned out in my head. Coming back from school on Wednesday 14th February 2024 is till date the saddest day of my life. Seeing some of my relatives on that day baffled me, going upstairs seeing more relatives in the palour baffled me even more. Going to my room seeing my sister crying made me worried. Till I realized I saw your picture downstairs, I had to call my cousin to ask. When she broke the news to me, I broke in tears although I didn't believe what she said. I was always eager to come back to the village cause I know I'd be seeing you but now traveling to bury you? It's so melancholic.

I will miss the way you'd welcome us after our journey, how drinks are readily available in crates, the food! Ah! I'll miss you so much my kind,gentle, meticulous and generous grandfather. You were always there for me, whether I needed a shoulder to cry on or someone to make me laugh. I'll cherish the memories of the times we spent together. You will always be in my heart and I will miss you every day. Your faith in God is something I will always admire, your strong doctrines and how you'd never miss going church. At least you have gone to meet your creator and your Lovely wife.

May your gentle soul rest with the Lord Our Father.

Love Asiegbu Sophie Onyinye,

Your  First Granddaughter❤️

A Tribute for my Grandfather

A bridge has fallen. The only reason I love coming to the village is to see you. The news of your death broke me when I heard it I couldn't believe it because you were a strong and hardworking man who loves work. He also loves making us comfortable whenever we come to the village. What's the joy of village without you. Sometimes it feels like a dream, I can't still believe you are gone forever. Every morning before we wake up, you have already cooked and ask us to bring our plates for food and you will dish it. As we are eating you keep asking if we are okay with the one we have eaten. Anytime we go to the market together you end up buying banana you always have groundnut in your room and you always buy minerals for us. You always ask us if we would eat pawpaw . Who is now there to ask us all this ? You always sharing your food even if it was small. I can still remember the way you  drag your feets whenever you walk and the way your keys sound whenever you are about to go out with that your special stick. One thing I know is that you will always and I mean always remain in my heart. Sometimes it seems as if your around. Every Sunday how you rush us to church even when they haven't started anything whenever church closes you will always waste time everybody you see. One thing I know is that way you lived on the earth, in heaven you will be rewarded and may your gentle soul rest in perfect peace.

Amen 🙏

In loving memory of Uncle Fred Asiegbu:

Chief was more than an uncle to me, he was more like a father and he also took me as a daughter. He was someone I admired for his hard work. When I heard the news of his demise, I could not believe that he was gone because he was the one that took me and Chimee to the park when we were going back to school in January and we were all laughing and cracking jokes in the car. I never thought that would be the last time I would see him. Death has taken away one of the people that brought joy to my life . I have cried my life out but tears can't bring him back .

One quality Chief Fred had was the remarkable ability to make everyone around him feel seen and appreciated. He also had this unique way of welcoming people which I loved.

I sit down trying my best to console myself from this huge loss. I remember all the times I came for holiday in his house and he will welcome me with so much joy and lots of food and meat. I will never forget all the things he taught me like some Igbo songs and how palm oil is processed. I always wish I had the strength he had cause he was always farming or doing one work or the other. He has always been a very active person. He was also very strict and funny. I remember that whenever Chimee and I hear his room door open we will run and make sure everything is in order because he always wanted things arranged orderly. I really miss him.

I keep asking myself who will give me popcorn and groundnut , who would give me palm oil to go to school with , who would give me so many different minerals whenever I visit? The thought is always painful when I remember that he is gone and I won't see him . 

May God in His infinite mercy, grant your soul a peaceful repose in His bosom and may the Holy Spirit comfort the family you have left behind, Amen🙏😢

*A TRIBUTE TO MY FATHER IN LAW- ICHIE FRED ASIEGBU (EZEANALU)*

It is with disbelief and heavy heart that I write this as I still find it uncomfortable to refer to Ichie in the past.

I first met Ichie when I visited his family as a 'potential' son in-law. My first impression of him was of a calm and gentle man, very distinguished in nature. Once I became a full blown son in-law, he took me in and made me a part of his family since then. He has been there for me especially after my own dad passed 10 years ago.

Ichie, you were the perfect gentleman with a quiet but impactful presence. You embodied strength and resilience, even after mummy passed you still stood strong. You were more than a father in-law to me, you became a role model, a friend and an integral part of our lives. I personally looked forward to our calls and the visits we made to Umunnachi whenever we travelled down to Anambra. You were such a family oriented man and never lost your dignity or concern for those around you. Ichie, you will be truly missed and your memory will forever be a beacon of light in our hearts.

Rest with the angels Ichie Ezeanalu and if people truly met one another in the after life then greet mummy with a big hug and tell her we still miss her.

'To live in the hearts of those you love is not to die'.

Uncle Fred, I guess it's now beyond doubt that you have gone to your maker.

When my mother called with the sad news,  I did not want to believe it,  instead I told her about  your last post, a few days earlier on the UIU platform,  which was a tribute to Mokwugwo Okoye.

I also recalled our last  phone conversation. Still in doubt, I immediately called to speak to you but to no avail. When you also did not return my call, I feared that the worst may have happened because you will usually return Udumelue's call ( that is my middle name which you prefer).

It is difficult to say Good bye. I was introduced to your beautiful family by my father upon my admission to University of Jos. You were rich, unarguably the richest person from Umunnachi in Jos. You were a pleasant and an  amiable gentleman. You were generous, your home was open to Umunnachi indigenes in Jos. I remember the warmth and friendliness around your home. How can I forget your wife's cuisine, she is one of the best cooks that I have come across.

Infact, when I did not head to Naraguta hostel after lecture, I headed straight to kentucky supermarket opp. Jankwanur. Kentucky was the name of your massive supermarket; a two- storey building with another massive duplex behind which was your residence.

Your commitment to your catholic faith was unquestionable and unalloyed. All the Reverends that were posted to Jos, were hosted by you before they eventually found their place of abode.

I recall your friendship with Bishop Ganaka, the then catholic Archbishop of Jos. You remain true to your christian faith till the end.

Though it is painful to say Good bye, but I'm sure you are having your well deserved rest in the bossom of the Almighty God. Although our loss is heaven's gain, but this loss hits differently. You will be sorely missed. Kenelum mama Ikenna. Good night Uncle Fred 😭

Chinelo Bob-Osamor(Nee Okagbue)

"This world is not our home, we are just passing by...."as Jim Reeves sang it decades gone by.

Chief Fred A. C. Asiegbu, an inlaw,  is well known to me.He was always engrossed in doing his duties satisfactorily, as one of those young men fortunate to be employed in a vibrant business. 

Later in life,he set up Kentucky Supermarket, that bubbled with shopping, relaxation and socializing spot for many in Jos, Plateau State. 

You and my brother, Igwe Nnachi 1, had wonderful relationships as godfather and godson and then as an inlaw. No coincidence, I guess for such is destiny. 

You attended ti your duties as inlaw,and uncle ( Nnaochie), even as evident in November and December, at Dr.Sr. JoJo  funeral. 

Many are taken aback by your demise. The news is a big shock, but to God who made you we handover all, while praying that your soul rest in peace 🙏 Kachifoo.

From : Christy Akuanyionwu ( nee Onochie).

In loving memory of my dear brother-in-law, Ichie Ezeanalu

I still find myself hoping to see you in Jos again, never imagining that sudden death would snatch you away from us. You were a hardworking man. As a brother-in-law, you were more than just family, you were a pillar of strength and a father figure to us all.

We cherished the moments we shared together as a family, the laughter, and the bond we formed. It's still difficult to comprehend that you're no longer with us. Every time I gaze at your picture, I find myself asking, "Why, Ichie? Why did you have to leave us so soon?" Your absence leaves a void that can never be filled.

We miss your fatherly love, your infectious smiles that brightened our days. The memories of your kindness and warmth will forever be etched in our hearts.

Though you may be gone, your spirit lives on in the love and memories you left behind. Until we meet again, dear brother-in-law, may you rest in peace, knowing that you were deeply loved and will be surely missed.

Your sister in law,

Mrs Chinyere Lucy Asiegbu (Ezigbo)

Ichie Ezeanalu, our foremost uncle in Igwe Nnachi 1's household, has been a complete embodiment of that term, Uncle!!

In the seventies, when truly there was a country, our holidays spent in the temperate abode of Jos, Plateau State, where Fred or " Kentucky" held sway, imbued in us a great sense of adventure and exploration, as we enjoyed the many treats he had in store for us.

Those heydays, he would orchestrate a picnic with his colleagues, who have all become great men today, with their Honda 175's in tow, and we would navigate the trendy places of Jos... museums, the serene parks, plazas and hotels, in an entourage brimming with great hospitality and  panache.

A day that equally stood out, was the 28 of July, 1975, as we stood in one of his shops at Ahmadu Bello way, and watched a military procession that graced that avenue, only to wake up in the morning to the news of a new government in the Country.

Uncle Fred, before he was equally known as Ide Okpalenze, has always been a thoughtful and giving personality, and my last physical interaction with him this year elucidated all that, as we sat out on his porch, over a couple of drinks, and chatted about many topics, including the anticipated homecoming mass, of our recently departed Reverend sister Jojo, of which he braced all challenges, to attend the obsequies with us in Lagos, in December.

His last text on my phone, was emphatic on his joy and blessings, as he welcomed my grand daughter's birth, as he had equally become a great grand uncle by that.

Ichie' s transition was shocking, since he wasn't sickly, and had just tended his garden, as a retiree's past time culture he cultivated with passion.

We can only accept God's Will on this, and May his family be condoled by the Special Grace of God, and the amiable legacy that Ichie has left behind.

- Prince Chike Onochie ( Ezekwesili) and family.

In cherished memory of Uncle Fred Asiegbu (Ichie Ezeanalu) ,

a paragon of generosity and warmth in our family. His gracious hospitality knew no bounds, as Sunday mornings after mass, we were usually greeted with the aroma of his home made breakfast; hot pap and akara, serving as a delicious reminder of family love and setting the tone for cherished family gatherings.

His hosting skills were legendary, especially during special events like the New Yam Festival, where he not only celebrated tradition but also brought our family closer together with his infectious spirit and love for sharing.

Closing from school at the end of the day, and returning to Uncle Fred's Shop meant more than just refreshment; it meant being welcomed with our favorite soft drinks, a small gesture that spoke volumes of his thoughtfulness and care for us.

The bounty of fruits from his compound was a testament to his nurturing nature, always ensuring we had the freshest and healthiest treats to enjoy. And his unwavering presence at every family event and ceremony reminded us of the importance of unity and togetherness.

Uncle Fred leaves behind a legacy of kindness, generosity, and love that will continue to inspire us all. May his memory be a blessing, and may we strive to embody the same spirit of giving that he so beautifully exemplified throughout his life.

Though you may no longer be with us, but the memories of your laughter and generosity continue to nourish our spirits.

Thank you, Uncle for the love, laughter, and countless blessings you bestowed upon us. Your legacy of kindness will forever inspire us to live with open hearts and giving hands.

May your gentle soul rest in perfect peace Amen.

Your Niece,

Mrs.Jennifer Asiegbu Nwachuya. 

In loving memory of Uncle Fred Asiegbu (Ichie Ezeanalu) 

You were our Oasis after the long trek to the shop from high school back then. Your simple yet profound gesture of offering any drink of our choice to me and my sibs free of charge, filled our hearts with gratitude and warmth. Your generosity knew no bounds, and your kindness remains a beacon of light in our memories. Thank you for your unwavering love and for always making us feel cherished.

I remember back then when we'd all gather to celebrate the richness of life during the New yam festival and countless other occasions at your home. Your home was a haven of joy and laughter. Your warm embrace and genuine hospitality made each gathering unforgettable. Though you may be gone, the memories we shared in your home will forever live on in our hearts. Rest in peace, Ichie Ezeanalu..

Your Niece,

Pharm. Asiegbu Chiamaka