**Tribute From My Heart
To My Brother, His Royal Highness,Eze Ositadinma Nwokocha**
My brother…
Nwanne m……
Even as I try to write these words, my heart grows heavy. I never imagined a day would come when I would have to speak of you like this. Ọ dị m njọ.
You were not just my brother, you were my strength, my companion, and the man who walked with me through every chapter of life.
From the days of our youth till your days on the throne, ị juru m anya. You carried yourself with dignity, calmness, and wisdom. Even before you became a king, your leadership was already inside you. Everyone felt it. I felt it most of all.
When I began my journey as a barrister, still young, still learning, still trying to build my name in the legal world, you were the one who lifted me.
You introduced me to people.
You brought clients to my door.
You carried my name with honor and pride.
Anytime someone needed legal help, your voice was always the same:
“Gaa hụ nwanne m. Onye a nwere ezi omume. O ga-edu gị n’ụzọ ziri ezi.”
Umara, you didn’t just send people to me, you believed in me with the whole of your heart.
I grew in my profession because you stood behind me.
You told people the truth about who I was, about the work I did, about the integrity I tried to uphold.
Your support built doors for me that I could never open alone.
We spent countless nights together, you sharing matters happening in the community, me explaining the law, and both of us learning from each other.
You had a way of listening,calm, patient, thoughtful.
You would nod slowly and say:
“Ee, nwanne, nke a dị mma. I ga-enyere ha aka.”
Your encouragement strengthened me more than you ever knew.
When you became king, I stood by you, not because you needed strength,you already had enough,but because I was your brother.
And you carried that throne with grace.
Even as a king, you never changed.
You were still the same Osita, humble, gentle, caring.
But even in your kingship, you supported me more than I supported you.
You made sure people respected my work.
You made sure my name stayed clean.
You made sure the community trusted my office.
Your presence alone brought honor to me.
My brother, I remember our long conversations,the ones that lasted deep into the night.
We talked about the village, about family, about life, about the future.
Sometimes we argued, sometimes we laughed, sometimes we fell silent and just sat together, happy to be brothers.
I remember how you would call me “Barrister” with pride in your voice.
To you, my success was your success too.
I remember how we stood side by side during important family moments,always together, always united.
We were brothers in blood, in spirit, and in loyalty.
Umara, your absence leaves a space in me that words cannot fill.
Ọ na-atu m ime, but at the same time, I thank God.
I thank Him for giving me a brother like you.
I thank Him for the years we shared.
For the memories.
For the love.
For the support.
For the bond nothing can break.
My brother,
Gaa nke ọma.
Jee n’udo, Eze Ositadinma.
Rest in peace, my king, my brother, my friend.
Until we meet again…
Ka ọ dị.
CHIEF BARRISTER MARK UGOCHUKWU NWOKOCHA