By: Godwin Onuh Odeh, PhD Mr. Linus Owoicho Odeh, died on January 3rd, 2025. This January marks one year anniversary of his demi...
By: Godwin Onuh Odeh, PhD
Mr. Linus Owoicho Odeh, died on January 3rd, 2025. This January marks one year anniversary of his demise. The year opened on a very sad note to me and the family. Linus Odeh, a down-to-earth loving elder brother, generous and a man with a lion heart. A man everyone would wish to have as brother; a man of uncompromising stand who was not known for fear and nonsense. Your so-called enemies, if any, or who choose to make themselves enemies can't dispute this.
Mr. Linus Odeh served in MOPOL 45 Abuja and participated in several operations across the country when Mobile Police was at its peak. After demobilization, he served in border patrol in Katsina before his redeployment back to Abuja. Shortly after, he passed away after a brief illness at Kubwa General Hospital Abuja.
Your selfless support for my education up to University level remains memorable. Being the last born, I grew up looking up to you among other elder siblings, and we remained the closest. I recall when you enrolled me in primary school for the first time, and I stopped after I was intimidated and scared by one Mr. Anya, from Ogobia Ugboju, who opened his eyes wide, scared me, and I screamed as a young lad. After stopping for a while, you returned from Enyonji Technical College Onyangede, in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State, where you were schooling specializing in Automobile, and took me back to school. It was at this point of second going that the journey continued down to secondary school and University, where you took on the responsibility.
As your name implies, Owoicho, meaning God. For all you had done, you were truly God sent to this world for my sake. Though a normal policeman with a meagre salary, you inspired, encouraged, and passionately invested in me, but never lived to eat the expected fruit of your labour. Till date, I still remember your support for my studies. I still remember your assuring and courageous words, "don't worry, when they pay I will send you the money" each time I presented a request for registration and pocket money.
My dear brother, whatever I am today, without your kind of person, it would have been impossible. Others were buying cars and doing other things, but you chose to invest in education; your labour of love won't be in vain by the grace of God.
Ogoli Cha Cha K' ene Odeh(one man, one bullet), your brother, and a friend is a friend indeed. The last honour and ritual he performed was absolutely perfect. In his words, "there are relationships that go beyond Abuja, and there are people one has no option but to attend the funeral and burial. How can I be in Abuja and not attend Linus' burial?" This struck and pierced my heart, registering he is a real human being. He always called to check on me. He and others of good conscience miss you.
Myself and the wife, Juliana Linus, once counted money together, which I was supposed to take to school, without her countenance falling. I appreciate her and remain grateful for not opposing the support of my brother. This is a thing many women and wives of this generation, except few, would accept. Even the most godly women may fail that test in this era.
It has been a year, and I thought it was a dream, but the reality of your absence is gradually dawning on me. As an elder brother, you were a shield to me. It was my earnest prayer that you would live long for me to pet you at old age; I never knew life had another plan.
On New Year's Day, January 1, 2025, we spoke at length, and you were okay. I still remember your words, "I'm just waiting for the doctor to come and discharge me". Oh, death, why are you always like this! Death will always come when it will come and always hit where it pains the most. Each day I'm in constant pain.
So touching and most painful was the new uniform you sew and kept in the office awaiting your decoration with the new rank, which you never saw. It is well!
I remember your kindness, your generosity, and your unwavering support this day. As I said before, if human beings have the opportunity to come to this world, and "if I am to come to this world a hundred times, I will choose you as a brother". Jack Thorne, appear to have got it right in his words that: "those we love never truly leave us.There are things that death cannot touch". Your memory remain fresh and your legacy lives.
As always, you are dearly loved and missed by my humble self, your children: Isaac Junior, Michael, Mary, and Grace, and your wife, Juliana. Continue to rest dear brother, De Boss of All Bosses.
Dr. Godwin Onuh Odeh
Department of History and International Studies
Sokoto State University, Sokoto.
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