From the family of Dr. & Mrs. Dele Yaya

It is with heavy heart that I write this Tribute to Late Prince Emeka Obasi, our amiable brother-in-law and friend. The husband of Mankini, as he fondly calls his dear wife, Betty, Prince was a good in-law who had respect for the family.

There are too many great things to remember about Prince. He was generous, a peoples man with great zest for life. He, an Ibo married to an Etuno Princess, did not fnd it diffcult breaking the cultural barriers. He was an authentic and patriotic Igbo yet detribalised.

Prince can be brutally frank yet humble. I can recall our earliest contact as in-laws. He told me all he had heard about my wife- her strengths and weaknesses. I was surprised he could be so open. I immediately developed affection for him because I love those that speak the truth.

In our last conversation on Monday 6th December, 2021, he again displayed his frankness, down-to-earth point blankness. He told me I must take responsibility for certain areas of concern. I kept saying: “You’re right”. “Very True”. “Yes Prince”.

As an avid reader of news magazines, my earliest contact with Prince Emeka Obasi was remote through his Newswatch writings. I never knew he was going to become the husband of my dear sister, Mankini. Nee Amune, Betty is the illustrious eldest child of our Daddy and Mummy, Chief and Mrs A. A. Amune. This is the home I had the privilege to take my dear wife from. Immediately after their marriage, her Auntie Mrs C. M. Amune took Kikelomo, my wife as her frst daughter, though a niece. My wife recalls how the three of them started that matrimonial home. Emeka was extremely fond of Kike as he calls her. That adopted senior daughter of the family role has continued to-date.

When her cousin Betty needed to go to UK to see her children towards the end of November last year, my wife had to take charge of the home front for her until she returned three weeks later. Before then, my wife had been with her daughter, Oizamsi in Lagos. In mid February 2022, when she went to tell them that she was going to leave Lagos for Kaduna, her base via Abuja where her husband currently works, she met the health challenge of Emeka was becoming critical. She had no choice than to cancel her plans and remain with Emeka’s family. She stood by her cousin all through till Emeka passed on Tuesday 15th March, 2022.

From Mrs Oizamsi Inegbrnijie (Nee Yaya)