“LUCHIEEE” – That’s what Uncle Chuks and Aunty Ngozi called me. My faves!
Biologically speaking, I am not a member of the Chuks-Okeke family but there’s never been a family that has felt so much like home and Uncle Chuks whom I would seldom call Daddy, was one of the reasons the house in Anthony Village felt like home to me whenever I visited Lagos.
Uncle Chuks was a very kind man. For example, he did not need to drop off his daughter’s friend at the airport but by 5am, he woke up to drop me off at the airport and the fact that he had absolutely nothing to gain from helping me in this way is one of the reasons I would seldom call him Daddy – he always acted like a father to many.
He was a very funny man. His style of comedy is my favorite because it is not an obvious joke but “those who know, know”. The one funny joke I don’t think I’ll ever forget is a statement of his I saw Chioma posting “una no dey taya?” Lol! With or without context, that statement will ALWAYS be funny to me.
He was a very hardworking man. He would set goals and achieve them – I know this because I once complimented him for his weight loss. So even goals such as weight goals, Uncle Chuks would smash them. He was a very COOL dad to his children and by extension, friends of his children would come to see him as such – one of the COOLEST DADS I’ve known. I loved that he would go into the kitchen and help Ekene out with some chores – silently teaching her that any man that claims he loves her and doesn’t do his part in chores, needs to do better. He led by example.
These things I write are only a portion of who Uncle Chuks was because remember, I am a non-biological member of the family so you can only imagine what the biological members, close friends and other loved ones of the Chuks-Okeke family would have to say about Uncle Chuks.
I’m terribly saddened by the loss of Uncle Chuks but I know he’s off to an even better place so now, I’m just happy that I got the privilege of experiencing such a great man who lived a very great life. May the soul of our dearly departed Uncle Chuks continue to rest in perfect peace and may the good Lord comfort all of us, especially his immediate family who continue to mourn his departure to heaven. AMEN.