Where do I start from, how do i start, and what will i say? All i have to say is to say thank you Lord as i returned all the glory to God almighty for he related and has been close to this humble, gentleman i have ever met. He is an epitome of intelligence and wisdom which some misinterpret as weakness. A man of utmost integrity that left early in a type of Nigeria which we all are expecting to belong to, where excellence, integrity, merit honesty are been cherished, valued and celebrated. A man of exemplary character very difficult to describe. Some call it gentle, others call it weakness, some says he was not seeing etc. But I call it gentle and simple, divine wisdom, which is from above that is above all and that is who he was in everything he does. Ever simply the best.
PEACE: A very peaceful man,never angry or talks angrily to you or with or with a harsh tone or shout. No not brother. It must be with a cool and settled voice of advice. You should not have done that, why not do it like this.
INTERGRITY: To the fullest. His motto is never tell a lie' it is the truth that saves' . I learnt this from him as a little primary one boy. If two little children do something wrong and one owns up by saying I did it and the other denies. He will spare the one that owns up and punish the one that denies. Why? He will tell you it is the truth that will set you free. You must own up for whatever you do and be ready to bear the consequences of your actions. That whatever you want to do think of the consequences first. Can I bear it? It will guide you. As a result of that singular principle which he strongly believes there was a stage in his life where he rejected a bribe of seventy million naira. In his words ' I can not bear the outcome only posterity will judge whatever we do'
INTELLIGENCE: like the gods it was just flowing naturally from him in his actions, his thoughts, his deeds and so on. It was given to him beyond measure by God. All glory to almighty God. Uptill tomorrow the record he created when he finished his Teaching Training College at St Thomas's College Ibusa in 1954 nobody has been able to equal it for it is unbreakable you can only equal it. (Distinction in Nine subjects)
TEACHING: A born teacher in any subject he handles an orator of repute with a high sense of humour. At University of Ife he was an orator, at University of Benin, he was an Orator also at Benson Idahosa University. I was only in a few of the speech making meetings and I was always proud to be associated with you from your eloquence, logical and excellence in those speeches. I know most of your political friends made you write speeches and citations for them.
HARDWORKING: As a little farm boy you were hardworking, as a student you were hardworking, as a teacher, tutor and a lecturer you were very hardworking. That despite all odds of not belonging to any group or cult,but the church of Jesus Christ you made it to the pinnacle of Academics ( Professor Emeritus) in your chosen career. We give all the glory to the almighty God. The number of books, writeup, publications and citations you have in circulation is also a pointer to this hardwork with which you have proved that there is dignity in hardwork and that we should not despise the days of little beginning. That there is no shortcut to life. As it is been celebrated in our nation. Whatever you want, you work hard for it and get it.
Conclusion, by this your exemplary qualities which you thought and lived by examples. Honesty, integrity, hardwork, peaceful to mention a few. I can say you have touched and imparted so many lives,you may not know, but history and posterity will ever judge you right anytime any day and anywhere your name is mentioned. Therefore, I take solace in the words of Paul the Apostle that you have fought a good fight, you have finished your cause,you have kept the faith, imparted lives and hence ready to receive your crown of glory which the righteous God will give you for you love his appearing. Brother rest in perfect peace at the feet of our Lord Jesus Christ till we meet and part no more. I will ever be proud that I knew you and belong to your generation of that illustrious son of Uloko Igbafe who took that name and registered it in the Guiness book of records as Professor Emeritus Philip Aigbona Igbafe.
Your brother James Igbafe.