“Hosa Never Dies”; Truly and phenomenally so, By Sufuyan Ojeifo

“I ‘ll see you again, b’cos good men never die
How do I start to tell the world the story?
How do I write this beautiful journey?
Words are not enough; there is no time at all
But this isn’t farewell; I’ll see you again
Tears may fall; I know you’re with God;
I know it is well
I’ll dry my eyes; I’ll remember your smile
I know it is well with WELLS
You gave your all and you answered the call
I know it is well
This isn’t farewell; I’ll see you again
Tears may fall; I know you are with God
I know it is well
I’ll dry my eyes; I ‘ll remember your smile
I know it is well with WELLS
Captain, you gave your all; and you answered the call
I know it is well
So, this isn’t farewell; and I ‘ll see you again
HOSA NEVER DIES!
Captain lives on forever (6x).”

-Theme song composed and rendered by Peter at Captain ‘Hosa’s funeral. (Video of song uploaded herewith piece)

https://www.theconclaveng.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/VID-20211229-WA0001.mp4?_=1

The above lyrics eternally capture the breezy life and times of the late business mogul, Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo, who passed on August 8, 2021 at the age of 63 and was buried on October 8, 2021 in his iconic multimillion dollar mausoleum constructed on his equally iconic multimillion dollar Wells Hosa Greenhouse Farm in Benin City. Both icons-the first architectural and the other agricultural-exemplify the panache, standard and taste for which Captain ‘Hosa was known.

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The beautiful lyrics and the phenomenal stage rendition of the theme song would have received Captain ‘Hosa’s approbation were he to be alive to appraise the singer and his rendition on a different occasion.

The qualities adumbrated in the opening paragraph- panache, standard and taste- reflected in all of Captain ‘Hosa’s endeavours and accomplishments-his iconic multibillion naira Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments in Abuja; his architectural masterpieces scattered across the world; his enigmatic combination of business acumen with splendor, which manifested in the acquisition of fifty-two vessels on the high sea in the fleet of Ocean Marine Solutions (OMS) with which crude oil was securely ferried to the nation’s refineries, in addition to being deployed in securing the pipelines and two private jets (which he later diverted to one of his mumerous companies-Gyro Air in expansion of his business empire), and so many other areas that have his imprimatur and Midas touch even in death.

That Captain ‘Hosa’s taste, style and panache reflected in the song and the entire burial remains an eternal credit to his progeny who synergized among one another and worked in concert with their uncles, Captain ‘Hosa’s younger siblings, to accomplish a phenomenal funeral.

The totality of the funeral was simply phenomenal. It speaks to the phenomenal personality that Captain ‘Hosa was while with us. He was phenomenal in compassion, hospitality, giving, and in loyalty to friendship. This certainly explains the phenomenal convergence on Benin City by family members, friends and business associates to accord phenomenal respects to him. I was on ground in Benin to pay my last respects and honour to a man that offered me remarkable support. He did the same for so many others, both the rich and the poor.

A very rich friend of mine recounted his experience with Captain ‘Hosa-how the late business titan had been terrific in his interventions any time he had cash flow issues. He said Captain ‘Hosa’s supports were always in eight digits; not to be paid back. That was the way of Captain ‘Hosa. Terrific Angel in human form!

I remember Captain ‘Hosa every day. And, to say that I miss him is an understatement. This year’s Christmas without Captain ‘Hosa would have been one helluva of celebration, but for God who is always faithful and merciful. But then, had Captain ‘Hosa been here, he would have, through his eleemosynary acts, encouraged many of us to sustain some indulgences that are way beyond our incomes. We would have been able to reach out to many significant others in the season of love in the manner of compassionate moneybags. Nevertheless, the Bible says that: “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1Thessalommninans 5: 18 KJV).

I thank God for the life and times of Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo. I thank God for the phenomenal legacy he left behind. I thank God for his phenomenal family. I thank God for his phenomenal memories that continue to live in my heart. I thank God that he gave Captain ‘Hosa to humanity. I thank God for the grace he gave him to define his eon with the magnitude of his phenomenal accomplishments after which he took a bow and exited the stage, yes, he took an exit, but did not die. And, it is on this score that I am consensus ad idem with Peter and his group who composed the song: “Hosa Never Dies” that Captain Hosa, indeed, lives forever.