Do not be surprised that I am writing you an open letter. Shortly after you died, Nigerians went into a season of writing open letters; the bug has bitten me. I know this letter will meet you well, but I wonder if you are still interested in some of these issues judging by the posthumous message you sent through our friend.

But first things first, we are fine. Doye (your wife) and the children are doing okay. It is tough without you. Our occasional visits and calls cannot compensate for your absence, but they are fine. Mama too is fine, shaken but doing okay.

The rest of us are doing fine, although some of us are still in shock. It is tough coming to terms with the suddenness of your death. But our faith in God remains intact. Nothing can separate us from the love of God, absolutely nothing.

So much has happened on the political scene since your departure. If God had not said otherwise, you would have been in the thick of it.

General elections are less than a year away and the political tempo has increased. Some usually dormant volcanoes have become unusually active and some hitherto active volcanoes have gone quiet.

The sand dunes have shifted so dramatically within the entire desert; many are helpless, clueless, stranded and confused. The continued alignment and realignment of the sand dunes is not helping matters.

Very few people seem to be spared. Who can truly  tame nature? Who can accurately predict nature? Nature definitely has a mind of its own.  Sometimes even the most powerful man on earth can be so limited and vulnerable that he looks the least powerful. The heart of the king is really in God’s hands. Truly only God is omnipotent.

Some people are painting Nigeria red; it is a cocktail of religion, misplaced ideology, politics, ineptitude and political strategy gone awry.

There are bombings, mass killings and uncertainty. Over 200 kidnapped Chibok school girls are still unaccounted for over two months after. We are gradually sliding into a Hobbesian state of nature; life has become so tentative and uncertain.

Some people need to learn that a cheetah does not necessarily enjoy a kill because it made it. Sometimes lions and other stronger predators do snatch a cheetah’s kill. Anyway, a National Conference to chart a future for Nigeria is on. Hopefully, it will address the major contentious issues and I pray that the will to implement the recommendations will be there.

Your bill on corporate manslaughter is still were you left it, but we were promised that it will be passed into law before the end of the Seventh Assembly.

They are honourable and distinguished men and women and we believe them. We have also written to remind them and received reassurances. Whatever happens ultimately, however, will not take away anything from you. You have played your part. Not much has happened on Delta Steel Company, Aladja, another project that was dear to your heart.

A few months ago, we were told that the former leadership of the Delta State House of Assembly ordered that your photograph be removed from among those of former speakers, that you were never one. People who heard wanted the family to write to the leadership of the Assembly. I told them that this matter was on before you passed on and you actually mentioned it to me. I also told them the family will not get involved. Sometimes in life, some things are better ignored. Moreover, I thought your death should have ended all forms of political rivalry and acrimony. Anyway, your legislative imprint in the Delta State House of Assembly is massive – you sponsored eight bills that were passed into law in eight years and over 40 motions that were adopted. Those bills and motions, like your children, carry your DNA. They are not subject to interpretation, genuine, mischievous or dubious; nobody can take them away from you.

Expectedly, a bye election was held to fill the vacant seat you vacated. The state chairman of your former party said in a Sunday Guardian interview that even if the party fielded a goat to replace you, it would win.  Very typical; does the leopard change its spots? Well the Nigerian Constitution does not allow political parties to field animals as candidates in an election, so the party fielded a regular human being. The outcome of the bye election with the ensuing controversy has been in the public domain. I was not there so I have no firsthand knowledge of what transpired, but I suspect the absence of the cat provided the rats the opportunity to dance Azonto and Skelewu. Surely, your electoral value is now apparent and indisputable.

A Malaysian plane with over 239 people on board disappeared on March 8 this year and it has not been found. What a tragic and painful way to lose loved ones? It is true what people say that “no matter how bad the situation is, it can be worse”. Thank God you died surrounded by family (your wife and five of your seven siblings). Even if in tears your children paid their last respects. The Senate honoured you with a valedictory session aired on national television. The entire Urhobo Nation – only for the second time in history – also honoured you with a valedictory session. There were many other honours and accolades too numerous to mention here, not to talk of the outpouring of emotions and love within and without Nigeria.

A lot more has happened, but let us leave them for God (Ejovwok’Oghene). Continue to rest in the bosom of the Lord, our Ahwotu (crowd puller). We will always love you.
Francis Ewherido, brother to the late Senator Ewherido, wrote from Lagos