THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012
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NEWS MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR LEVI AJUONUMA
• The late Ajuonuma’s widow Josephine...yesterday
•Children of the deceased: Serah (left), Debby (second left), Daniel (middle), Benjamin and Michael (right)...yesterday
•Alison-Madueke (middle), her husband Rear-Admiral Alison Maduekwe and Yakubu...yesterday
•Hon. Abike Dabiri (right), Mr. Fiddi Morrison and former NNPC MD Funsho Kupolukun (middle)...yesterday
•Frontline Abia politician and businessman Chief Ikechi Emenike and ace columnist Muhammed Haruna...yesterday. PHOTOS: NIYI ADENIRAN
I’m confused, overwhelmed, says Ajuonuma’s widow
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EOPLE trickled into Harbour Point Events Centre, off Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos. Security personnel frisked all the guests. The mood was sober. It was the venue of a service of songs held yesterday for the late Dr. Levi Chibuike Ajuonuma, who died in the June 3 Dana Air plane crash. An hour delay was needed to allow the “Abuja delegates” led by Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Maduekwe and Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Andrew Yakubu, to join the congregation. After a short prayer which started off the programme at 4:04pm, an eclectic praise-andworship session followed. It featured songs from popular Nigerian languages, which lightened the mood, dispelling the moody ambience that earlier hung thick in the expansive hall. From then on, the programme, save for when one of the deceased’s daughter, Mimi, broke down in tears while paying tribute to her dad, lived up to the theme of celebration. Electrifying performances of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles (MFM) Orchestral, described by Mrs. Alison-Maduekwe as “angelic,” lit up the hall, ensuring those wearing long and heavy faces only have to do so for a moment. A short documentary on “Livi,” as the deceased was fondly called by associates and family, also played its part in lessening people’s grief by portraying Levi as a vivacious, fulfilled and accomplished person who lived his life to the fullest. The documentary described Levi as a critic of fuel subsidy removal, which he later defended. But when ask why he changed his view, he was quoted as saying, “It is easy to criticise when you are outside but when you are inside and know the truth, it is easy to change your view.” The homily would have allowed people the needed time to grief while remembering glimpses of Levi’s interaction with them but Pastor Kehinde Adegbolahan, MFM’s Assistant General Overseer, delivered a poignant and perhaps, the shortest one in such a service, lasting less than 10 minutes. “The most important thing is not the question of why God allowed it but the life lived. One thing I noticed in his life was that
•Alison-Maduekwe, others pay tribute at memorial service By Segun Balogun
he was a prayer warrior. One day, we too will go the way our brother has gone. How are we living the life God has given us?” he said. Justifying the theme, he said: “Many people died without making any impact and they are buried in an unknown grave. Our brother is in heaven. He died having made great impact.” Mrs. Alison-Maduekwe, who wrapped up her tribute with a song, described Levi as ‘a consummate professional’ loved by everybody.’ She said: “When I walked into OPEC headquarters a few months ago, everybody knew him and shared their pain. Therefore, it is a great loss. If we know how beautiful the place Levi has gone is, perhaps, we will be killing ourselves but thank God for keeping that secret from us until we cross to the other side.” A representative of NNPC’s Group Public Affair Division said: “Though, he was with us for less than 10 years, his impact exceeded that of 30 years. His impact is felt even in far away Warri where I was before moving to Abuja, especially when we needed to redeem the image of the corporation.” Levi, whose favourite quotes as stated by his wife included “know God for yourself, learn how not to react but act,” was born on December 2, 1959 in Enugu, the last of six children. His father is a native of Ideato South in Imo State. He was married with eight children, four boys and four girls. His widow Josephine said: “There are not many words that can express this excruciating pain and the hole that will forever be in my heart. I am confused and overwhelmed at the thought of never seeing you again.” His daughter, Mimi, said: “Family devotions will never be the same again. I never thought this day would come so soon and in the way it did. I cannot imagine what my life would be without my dad, when he had been there for me my entire life. “They say you do not know what you got until it is lost. The truth is you knew what you had, you just never knew you would lose it. Mimi, he is that person that will always show up.” Another of his daughters, Sarah, said: “Even though he was very light hearted, he had a
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There are not many words that can express this excruciating pain and the hole that will forever be in my heart. I am confused and overwhelmed at the thought of never seeing you again
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serious side, which he needed to raise his eight children. I will never forget the time we spent together, even though it ended far too soon. Strong work ethics.” For Obinna Levi Ajuonuma Jr., “the last moments we shared were victory moments. So, regardless of whatever the devil wants to say and do, we won! I walked across that stage and you live to witness my graduation. I will forever give that testimony.” His son, Michael, noted: “I am going to miss your Bible readings and your voice during praise and worship. I am going to miss our current affairs talks. I am going to miss updating you on the latest craze. I am going to miss seeing your name on the celly as incoming call. I could not have asked for a better earthly father. “Thank you for teaching me the power of humility, thank you for the physical, emotional, and financial security, thank you for stressing the importance of education, health, and exercise. I know you know how much I love you. I just wish I told you more often.” His daughter, Becky, said: “ You were always a blessing to those around you and lived your life for God and because of this, I know you are in a place where everyone dreams of going, heaven. You laid the Christian foundation for us and this I believe is one of the greatest gifts you have given us. Your life was a testimony that God is real and that we are nothing without God.”
For Debbie and Daniel, his children : “We never realised how much our father meant to us, until the day Dana Air Flight 992, a McDonnel Douglas MD-83 aircraft took him from us. When our parents are living, we feel that they stand between us and the cruel world and even death; but when they are gone, we find ourselves standing in the forefront of the battle line, to stand or fall alone, without their aid. We lost our motivation, but now we have to motivate ourselves. He explains the saying that bad things happen to good people.” After his high school education, the late Ajuonuma had a stint as an announcer/ newscaster with the Imo State Broadcasting Service, Owerri. In 1979, he left for the USA where he enrolled at the Hungtington College, Indiana, and bagged a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications. He later got Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Mass Communication from the University of Minnesota in 1983 and 1987 respectively. In 1989, he got an MBA from Plymouth College of the University System of New Hampshire State. Before returning to Nigeria, he worked briefly as Assistant Professor at the Department of Journalism, Keene State College of the University System of the State of New Hampshire. The late Ajuonuma enjoyed a prolific career as a broadcast journalist, independent producer, talk show host, and public relations consultant between late 80s and 2002. He launched himself into public reckoning on the wings of popular talk/entertainment shows such as: The Nation Today on NTA Channel 10, Levi Ajuonuma Live, Insurance and You, Morning Ride, The Sunday Show, Showtime and Open House Party, an entertainment show which hosted comedians and musical acts on Ray Power FM. He joined the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in November 2003 as General Manager of the corporation’s Group Public Affairs Department. In 2007, this department was upgraded to a division and the late Ajuonuma was promoted to the position of Group General Manager of the division. He will be buried today in his hometown.