Alexander the Great
The news came to me like thunder when I was roused from sleep by a
phone call from Mr Benjamin Ebaju on Sunday morning, June 2, 2019. It was the heartbreaking news that Onyebaoronwanne
Alexander Nkennor nwa Monye had died after a strange illness in
Canada. Straightaway, I called his younger sister, Vote, who
confirmed that her elder brother had died the previous day, June
1. I commiserated, almost in tears myself.
Alex’s life course was evocative of the life of Alexander of the
royal house of Philip of Macedonia. Alexander the son of Philip had
risen to glory at the youthful age of 30 years when he conquered territories
and overthrew the vast Medo-Persian world empire, thus forming the Grecian (or
Greek) Empire in its place. That youthful Emperor is still
remembered as “Alexander the Great” about 2,300 years after his demise in the
prime of life.
The Greek name Alexander means “a helper of men” (or a benefactor) –
and which our own Onyebaoronwanne Alexander Nkennor nwa Monye
was! All eyewitnesses to his munificence, before it was truncated
mysteriously, can bear me out. And then having wrecked him, they set
a date for his demise and executed him! Yes! On Saturday, 1st June 2019, the evil ones who
have been plundering the cream of Afam Descendants repeated their accustomed
wickedness!
The stupor caused by this painful loss of Onyebaoronwanne is still
with me and I am still heaving sighs as I write this. God dey! Chukwu di fu
! Jehovah sees! The Great
Avenger knows how to avenge! Those with bright prospects among the
Afams ought now to guard themselves by worming into the heart of Jehovah – the
ultimate refuge and protector. (Ps 50:15, Pro 18:10, Ps 18:2, 91:1-2)
Okolo obia, Alex!
Nwoke oma, Alex!
Ome ogor, Alex!
Your kind deeds are following after you,
Becoming Jehovah’s blessings upon the household after you,
And blessed shall your children be, after you!
Rest well at last, Onyebaoronwanne Alexander Nkennor nwa Monye!
The greats were your ancestors – Afam and, after him, Monye!
Frank Monye
Lagos: Monday, 3 June 2019
