Life is a mystery. And the spirit of man is a vapour. The valiant dust called man is only important when the spirit of life is in it. It has been agreed that death is a necessary end of any life of man. God is wonderful when death occurs. A time to born and a time to die are the two important periods in a man’s life.
Watching and waiting, listening to the tune of time and dancing it is made possible by the Almighty creator. The death of Mr. Kenneth Amapibi the publisher of The Newswriter newspaper a Port Harcourt based tabloid is a blow to the mass media industry and the reading audience. The great writer of our time is no more around to entertain the waterfronts parliament. The Angala Dikibo the great orator will not be heard addressing the waterfronts parliamentarians again. The death of The Newswriter publisher is a great colossal loss to rivers people.
The creative writer was a man whose talent is difficult to come by in our society. Mr. Kenneth Amabipi was a man who had sympathy for the voiceless and the oppressed. And The Newswriter newspaper stormed the book stand with a great difference. Today, we are worried about the death of the publisher. It is true that every man would die but not at the same time. The publisher has laid a foundation for the next generation to stand. But the question is how many are ready to venture into the scene.
The publisher has struggled to bring the newspaper to a standard that is difficult for the storm of life to destroy, and was ready to reap the fruit of his labour, Only for death to come around and snatched without provocation of any sort. Who will write for us again? History is about the events of man. Mr. Kenneth Amabipi has made his own and needs sustainability of his effort on earth.
Yes, when the head goes down there is quietness. That was the experience at The Newswriter office at 23 Hospital Road, Port Harcourt. There was shock at the Office and phone calls came to a halt. Because the head is gone, the workers were in a mournful mood as radiation of the publisher’s death transverse the minds, the streets and the concerned citizens of the media. The emergence of The Newswriter newspaper has caused revolution in the media industry. The Newswriter publisher, Mr. Kenneth Amabipi has come to stay as his reading audience cuts across Nigeria.
The public is worried about the exit of a great publisher whose foot print would remain indelible in the print media. Mr. Kenneth Amabipi was not just a publisher but was a literary icon whose works motivate the reader to arise arid build Nigeria. The Okrika born publisher and writer has made great impact in the media industry. And the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Rivers State Chapter has lost an elder whose golden advice is needed most. The journey of Mr. Kenneth Amabipi to the world beyond is not only a blow to the immediate family alone but a loss to all whose works are to inform, educate and entertain the public. The death of the publisher is more than what the heart can think of. Because his contributions to life are enormous, it is hard to believe that the publisher of The Newswriter has kicked the bucket in the month of November, 2012.
The last topic of the waterfront parliament written by the literary icon and published on 8th 14th November, is: The Dilemma of the Ruler. Some of the quotes from the last episode read: “The people of the waterfronts gathered as usual to deliberate on the silly ways of the people of the city. They waited patiently for the appointed time to begin their parliamentary session but they could not concentrate as the din from the city became over bearing. It was noise all through and the people of the waterfronts wondered what the bedlam was all about.
So the confused rulers change their dance steps. We see them wash their pots and forks and spoons, yet they tell us that they have not taken their baths because there is no water. We see them wear well laundered suits, yet they say they too have no use of pressing irons because they have no electricity. We see their clean shoes as they visit us from far away and near, yet they tell us they trekked and have no cars. We see their mouths open wide, teeth shining and happiness planted on their faces, yet they tell us they know no laughter. We see them pack into a new mansion every year, yet they tell us things are so hard and that they are barely surviving.
They now behave like my landlord who told his relation that he had no money when she begged him for a thousand naira to feed her crying babies yet the following day, he bought a new jeep and brought to the house. She wondered if he stole it since he could not afford a thousand naira the previous day.
They make trips to overseas like trips to their backyard and tell us they went in an around for us who sent them. Yet nothing was brought to us who sent them on the trip, even as they collect the transport fare from our collective purse. They are like the husband who told his wife and children they could not afford to cook in the house and must make do with tapioca, morning, noon and evening. Yet he visits and eats in the expensive hotels on his own, morning moon and evening”
The great publisher and writer is gone when he service to humanity is mostly needed. What else will I say, may his gentle soul rest in the bosom of the Lord. Adieu Comrade and Elder Kenneth Amabipi. ###
Frank Eneawaji Ogwuonuonu
08028901682
