JAMES IBORI MOURNS HENRY ABEBE

- Describes His Death As A Personal Loss

Former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, has described as a painful loss the death of his friend, Henry Abebe, who died on August 8, 2014.

Ibori, in a statement signed by his Media Assistant, Tony  Eluemunor, said with Abebe’s death, “life simply became a lot reduced, not just for me, but for everyone in our circle of friends, for Henry was the soul of our gatherings”.

Describing the late Abebe as more than a brother, Ibori said: “We knew ourselves over 30 years ago, when we  were young and life was mainly still

ahead for us. We shared  our  dreams and  difficulties. We shared laughter and joy, and why not;some sorrows too. But one thing was certain; if you were close to Henry, he  shared his ups and downs and everything with you.

“Like all  young men growing up and searching for the meaning of  life and the ways to the kind of futures we hoped for, we went out together in search of business and money. Henry Abebe was the soul of our meetings. He was the one gifted with making a joke of even the most trying situations. He was a natural comedian, making us laugh with his uncanny  insights  into matters that never fail to bring those around him to rock with laughter.

“Life would have been a much gloomier place without him. To  meet  with Henry Abebe was to meet with joy and laughter. It was to meet not just  with a good man; it was  to meet goodness itself. He was joy and goodness personified. He was the dispenser of jokes, joy  and laughter. Life can  never be the same for any that was close to him.  I, personally, feel  an awful sense of loss.”

While commiserating with the wife, parents, siblings and relatives of the deceased, Ibori prayed that God will give them the fortitude to bear the loss, adding that they should take solace in the fact that he lived a fulfilled life.

He added: “As Henry Abebe is being buried on Friday 22 August, 2014, my heart goes out to his wife  Beatrice, his daughter  Nicole and his sons Mannie and Tony. Yes, I commiserate with his brother John and sister Rita.  And what can I say to  his aged parents? How do I console them? May they take heart! I pray the  Almighty God, in His infinite goodness, to grant them  the  fortitude to bear  this enormous loss”.

“For whatever it is  worth, they should know that they do not mourn alone all of  us who ever came across Henry Abebe mourn with them. And they should  take solace in the fact

that he lived a full and fruitful life.”