If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me (Psalm 139: 9-10). – Pius Adesanmi
Professor Pius Adesanmi, award winning writer, scholar, polemicist, satirist and all round ogbonge man died on Sunday March 10, 2019 in the ill fated Ethiopian Air Boeing 737 Max 8 crash. He was enroute Nairobi to attend an African Union conference.
Since his passing was made public, there has been an unprecedented outpouring of grief from Abuja to Adiss Ababa, Lagos to London and Capetown to Carleton university. Everyone has been united in their grief for a prodigous intellect, a fecund mind and prolific writer. Many have talked about his intellect, his warmth and his infectious laughter.
There were candle lit marches and tributes yesterday in Abuja and Ibadan and more are planned in the UK, USA, South Africa, Canada and many other locales.
Tonight, writers, journalists, scholars, friends and fans in Lagos will gather at Ouidah House, Lola Shoneyin’s publishing outfit to pay tributes to Pius Adesanmi.
But ofuma Agali, poet and PR maven has collated online tributes on his facebook and he has graciand we share some of those –
The bleeding Truth is that this Truth doesn’t look like the Truth; the tragedy is so surreal it takes a while to process reality. – Nduka Otiono
Not the right time to die: Let the dirges wait till many years to come when we can afford to wail. Let the down chorus of the birds wake me up from this headache. – Henry Akubuiro
No. This lightening cannot strike twice! – Deji Toye
The African continent lost an irreplaceable man (today) in Pius. – Olu Oguibe
Pius did not die unsung; if you ever met or read him, you would see he lives two lifetimes in one. But why do my eyes leak? – Iquo DianaAbasi
You were never in doubt about the power of his intellect; he was a happy, life-long learner, willing to correct himself as appropriate. – Afam Akeh
I believe that I shall just take whatever lesson this offers on life and keep calm. It is painful to imagine. – Obu Udeozo
Pius was a rare being, ebullient, a razor-sharp mind. He was what the Yoruba call an Omoluabi yet when it came to polemics, he could easily morph into a jaguda. Nigeria has lost one of those who loved her most. – EC Osondu
O death, where is your sting? My fingers are shaking… But I guess we can’t understand these things… My head hurts… We are left to console ourselves. – Jumoke Verissimo
Our hearts are broken. We have no words. This is hard to bear. He was a scholar and teacher of the highest calibre who leaves a deep imprint on Carleton. – Tope Oriola
This is one too many. I am waiting for a miracle. – Ofuma Agali
You were one of nature’s finest breed. Full of truth, reason, reality and laughter. Goodnight friend, voyager… We will miss you. – Kunle Shittu
I can’t bring myself to say rest in peace and yet I must wish your restless, fecund, passionate and patriotic (how much you ached and wrote to save Nigeria!) soul eternal rest. – Ogaga Ifowodo
Pius…, great scholar, truth teller, irrepressible soul… Rest in peace… – Biyi Bandele
Pius, may you experience a bumpless ride to eternal peace. Adieu my dear friend! – Enam Obiosio
We pay tribute to his cerebral, ebullient, effervescent and beautiful life. RIP Payo Baba. – Toni Kan