Editorial Suite
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HE WAS not up to seventy years. The magic year we are all supposed to have, according to Psalm 90: 10-17. So death has no business claiming him if the biblical passage is anything to go by. The cold hands of death certainly ought to have waited two more years before coming for him. But alas, death which kills the very time one wants to live gripped and snatched Mike Akpan, our editor-in-chief away from us. Yes, the devil death came the very time Akpan wanted to live to conclude the work we both started. I know he wanted to live because I saw it in his eyes when I told him in his house how far I had come with the project we had on hand and the challenges I was facing.
His reply was: “This wicked sickness won’t let me help you”. He wanted so much to be there for his family, and for Realnews. But unknown to both of us, death was lucking around. It has been knocking since last December 17, when we closed for the year and Akpan travelled to Uyo, Akwa Ibom his State, to celebrate Christmas with his family and to rest easy before returning back to work in January. But he fought it bravely. Shortly after he travelled he called me to say he became ill immediately he got home and was hospitalised. According to him, they did all recommended tests but nothing was found. I told him not to be in a hurry to come back that he should recover very well; and that we will cope until he comes back fully recovered.
He returned in February because he said he was tired of sitting in the house doing nothing and wanted to work. We were happy to have him back. But it was never the same as he complained of ill health and went back to see doctors at the Lagos State Teaching Hospital. They also did various tests and gave him some medication. He continued coming to work at his own pace but two weeks ago he called to say he was not going to make it to the office. When I went to see him in his house, he told me the family wanted him to return to Uyo so they can take proper care of him. I encouraged him to go and rest well, recover and get ready to play his part during the second anniversary of Realnews in November. He agreed.
I saw him off at the airport on Tuesday morning, September 23, and wished him a speedy recovery. I never knew it would be the last time I will see the brilliant and ebullient Akpan who was a pillar of strength and a father figure to us at Realnews. That was why I was shocked silly when the news came on Tuesday, September 30, that Akpan died while on admission for a few days at the University Teaching Hospital, Uyo. I still can’t believe it and nobody in Realnews has recovered fully since then. But then he was our pioneer editor-in-chief and we decided to shelve the cover story we had planned to do for this week and dedicate this cover edition in honour of him. The story is entitled: The life and Times of Mike Akpan, written by Olu Ojewale, our general editor. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace! Amen.
Maureen Chigbo
Editor
— Oct. 13, 2014 @ 01:00 GMT
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Oga Mike Akpan was a rare breed, simple. Not just was he an erudite and meticulous editor, he was a good man; a gentleman who inspired many people with his kind words and guidance. As a journalist, you could not wish for a better editor. His death is a real loss to those of us who kew him personally. Journalism has been robbed of one of its finest. May his gentle soul rest in peace and may God grant his family and colleagues the fortitude to bear this loss.