By Ogbonna Amadi Entertainment Editor

Chief Edwin Igbokwe, husband to departed superstar musician, Christy, is still in a mourning mood.

On Friday, July 8, when this writer called at his Ikeja home to commiserate with his family, he wore a long face which almost lacked the smile and brightness, he’d usually welcome his friends. It was the same home he’d shared memorable moments with his wife of more than thirty years.

Slumped over a plastic chair in a native adire attire ( his traditional trade mark outfit) in a corner of the vast compound and close to the gate of the mansion, Edwin Igbokwe was lost in thought as he gazed at the photograph of his late loving wife placed on a table beside the condolence register.

A concerned family source told this writer that the seat and the posture “has become his favourite seating place and the only place he receives visitors coming to pay their last respect to his departed wife”.

Farther away from where he sat, a group of young men were busy entertaining and refreshing guests with bottled water and assorted beverages.

On inquiry, we gathered that this has been the practice since news of Christy’s demise broke. His Excellency, Babatunde Fashola is said to have ordered and mobilised the caterers to ensure that visitors are taken care of on a daily basis.

“How long this may last, I cannot tell you” a source told Showtime.

“This is how my wife would have wanted it” was the reply Showtime got when we volunteered that he takes a break.

While sitting next to Chief, as he is fondly called by his workers and friends, the Anambra State born widower began to reel out his story;

“ Do you know that my wife who’d not bought a new dress in more than four years started piling up fresh ones into the ward robes? I didn’t understand it at all, but shrugged it off as one of those things women do.

•Igbokwe in midst of sypathisers

Your wife (referring to this writer’s wife) made so many clothes for her as her a fashion designer, but how many of those clothes did she find time to wear? None of them. (Shakes his head, pause and turns to welcome some new sympathisers).

Some of you may be wondering why Chief who is not usually given to much talk would choose to open up to this writer. It’s simple. I was very close to the Igbokwes and my wife was one of her trusted friends and her designer. Perhaps, he needed to ease his pain through reliving memories of his life together with Christy.

He continued; “a few days after she left us, one of the boys (the couple has four boys) brought to my notice that mummy (that was his pet name for his wife) had cooked enough pots of assorted soup that would last more than two months and left them in the deep freezers. It was unusual because she would normally make enough soup that lasts not more than two weeks.

Now that she is gone, everything seems to be falling in place. It is a further confirmation of what she told us- she’ll leave us as soon as she turned fifty.”

Asked what was her last moment was like, with her family, the deceased husband said “when we noticed a change in her, we decide to take her to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, Lagos on that fateful Tuesday. It was supposed to be a routine check-up.”

“And I was accompanied by our Godson (Romeo Obika’son). We took turns, watching over her. By the next day, she told me to call several of our family friends and asked them to pray for her.

She also insisted that we begin to sing songs of praise to the lord, saying, she’d since realised that praising the Lord is more pleasing to him than prayers. As we sang, she’d occasionally join us before relapsing into sleep.

We were not alone too. She also insisted that one of the Reverends at the Arch-Bishop Vinning Anglican Church, where we worship should be invited to offer some prayers. The man of God from Arch-Bishop Vinning came and offered prayers for her.

As the vigil progressed, she would wake up intermittently and asked me if I have called everyone to pray for her. I would answer in the affirmative.

Did she show any sign of losing the fight? Showtime inquired. “ Yes and that was on Thursday morning when she started gasping for breath and she was immediately put on an oxygen mask.

She wanted to removed it, insisting that it was no need, and that it was time for her to go. We had to oblige her.

You know Mummy had a tradition. At home, she begins her morning devotion at 9. 00am and that was exactly the time she breathed her last. She died on Thursday morning. ” Chief said in an emotion laden voice.