Elegy for Comrade Blessed Michael by Enejor Emmanuel

It is an honour to be given this privilege to give the eulogy of Comrade Blessed Michael.

It is like asking one to eulogize his deceased biological brother. He was so close and precious to me.

Throughout our years of friendship, we’ve never been so angry at each other that it showed on our countenance. It’s not an easy task doing this, nevertheless I accept it with a sad heart. It would have been my desire that if I predeceased Blessed, he would pay tribute to me on my final day, I think it was also his wish that if he predeceased me, I would deliver the homily at his funeral. Although it was not initially discussed, fate has decreed that I eulogize him.

We heard some asking questions like, what could he be doing in the town at that late hour of 10pm? neglecting the fact that some of us aren’t born with silver spoons, hence we grind till late hours almost every day of our lives because, we are concerned with the urgency that though we were not born into the noble families, we are still indebted as channels of blessings to our families and to all mankind that crosses our hearts and paths. So let that settle the questions been raised about our deceased brother’s departure. No one can be too wise to escape this fateful day on his/her own wisdom and capacity. So Beloved Blessed Michael is not a victim but a victor even in the face of death.

That’s why thousands of people across the globe are smitten with grief that this friend and brother of God’s children had been cut down in the flower of his youth. So everyone here and in every part of the world joined in praying that God will console the families and friends and as well bring the perpetrators to justice. We hope that this universal concern will bring comfort to the family— for grief is like a heavy load: when shared it is easier to bear. We come today to help the family carry parts of the load.

We’ve assembled here today, from so many part of the nation to give thanks to God for the gift he gave to Nigeria, in person of Comrade. Blessed Michael who is a Philanthropist. We thank him from the depth of our hearts too for taking him back to rest in the bosom of our dearly beloved brother and Master Jesus Christ the son of God. This is to let everyone knows that God is not a respecter of man.

No! He was not ahead of his time, no man is ahead of his time. Every man is within his star. Each man must respond to the call of God in his lifetime and not in someone else’s time. Jesus had to respond to the call of God in the first century A.D. and not in the 21st century. How long do you think Jesus would have waited for the constituted authorities to accept him? Twenty-five years? An hundred years? A thousand? He died at 33 years. He couldn’t wait. Paul, Galileo, Copernicus, Martin Luther the Protestant reformer, Gandhi and Nehru couldn’t wait for another time, they had to act in their lifetimes. No man is ahead of his time.

Abraham leaving his country in obedience to God’s call, Moses leading a rebellious people to the Promised Land, Jesus dying on a cross, Galileo on his knees recanting, Lincoln dying of an assassin’s bullet, Woodrow Wilson crusading for a League of Nations, Martin Luther King Jr. died fighting for justice for garbage collectors, Blessed Michael died speaking the truth he knows through his Lord and Master Jesus Christ of Nazareth, thereby shining light in the dark areas in peoples lives in obedience to his masters command “let your light shine before men that they may glorify your father which is in heaven”.

He takes his time to motivate, inspire, teach, give a helping shoulder and as well coach the few who cares to. You can find this testimonies everywhere on the internet and among people offline. None of these men mentioned hitherto were ahead of their time, with them the time was always ripe to do that which was right and that which needed to be done.

Too bad we say that Comrade. Blessed Michael died so young, I feel that way toobut as I’ve said many times before, it isn’t how long one lives, but how well. It’s what one accomplishes for mankind that matters. Jesus died at 33, Joan of Arc at 19, Keats at 25, Marlow at 29, Samuel Okwaraji at 23, George Floyd at 46, Lucky Dube at 43, Martin Luther King Jr. at 39 and Comrade Blessed Michael at 29.

Comrade. Blessed Michael believes in his Country Nigeria, he usually would do all things within his power to reach out to as many people as possible. He preached and lived the message of Peace, Love, Unity, Forgiveness, Brotherly Kindness among others. He hated seeing the hungry starve.

He hated seeing the homeless without a place to lay their heads. He hated seeing those thirsty without drinking. He hated seeing the sick not visited and assisted. He usually would say we are the answers to people’s prayers. He was indeed a channel of blessings to people’s life.

I believe he was, because he flowed into so many people’s life. He was never like the dead sea that only accumulates and not give out. So, this is a call for everyone present here to be a source of blessings to others like our beloved brother.

Finally, Comrade Blessed Michael took a few cups of love, he took one tablespoon of patience, one teaspoon of generosity, one pint of kindness, he took one quarter of laughter, one pinch of concern and then he mixed willingness with happiness. He had a life of faith and he started up well, then he spread it up over an expansive lifetime and he served each and every deserving and undeserving person he met.