Keshi's Look-Alike Nephew Speaks On The Last Moments Of The Former Coach

—As the football world continue to mourn the
death of the former Super Eagles captain and
coach Stephen Keshi, family members of the
deceased are still ‘blank’ to comprehend the fact
that their beloved father and brother has indeed
passed to the great beyond.In an exclusive chat
with NAIJ.com Sports, Keshi’s look-alike nephew
Ebuka narrates what the last moments of the
late tactician, saying it is still
unbelievable.Excerpts:
How is the family coping?
Well, the family is still in shock. It’s a real big
loss to us. It’s like where you have an
unsuspected volcano erupt immediately without
your control.We are still in grief. The wound is
still very fresh as though the incident is re-
occurring every day.Waking up every second and
not having him, not hearing his voice is huge
loss, shock. Well thank God that so far so good,
we were all holding-up.Keshi’s look-alike
nephew, EbukaThere is nothing we can do. We
just have to hold-up and be strong because I
believe itis what he wants us to do; to be strong.
What’s your one-on-one relationship with the
late legend like?
A lot of persons know me as his nephew; I can’t
remember a single occasion that he referred to
me as his nephew, like wise I do not refer to him
like a nephew.He is my brother and also a father
to me. We’ve lived together for a long time now
and in fact … losing a brother which is very close
and dear to me is still heavy.This morning I woke
up from sleep waiting to hear his voice as usual,
it was not there. Waiting to hear the knock on
my door, it was not there. Waiting to hear him
call our 'oya oboy come open gate for me let me
go to the gym’, it was not there. So, I just think
it is what we have to live with for a very long
time to come.
Can you describe what happened on that fateful
day?
He was happy. He was talking, he called me into
his room on two separate occasions and was just
getting himself ready to pray and I helped him
position his pillow, he sat up, he talked.He said
'ah oboy e be like say cold dey, help me off this
fan’, and I did. He said he will rest a bit and then
start his prayers.Then I left for the living room.
Moments later, he called me again and was like
‘this room don dey warm again’, so I put the fan
on again.And he said‘I will call you when I am
done again’. We talked and there was no
indication that I would not have him like that to
talk to again, I will not have him around, I will not
be able to smile with him, you know … laugh with
him.It never just … not the slightest of clue there
that that was what we were going to experience
some minutes to come. He was full of life;
basically full of life.
Can you confirm if he was to leave for the US
that day?
Ah… I know he was supposed to take a trip out
of Edo state. We did not really discuss if it was
going to be an onward transition to the US, but I
just know that he was getting himself for a trip
to Lagos.We did not discuss if he was to go to
the US afterwards, because he discusses his
movement.What can we say? What can we do?
He is gone, it has happened, we are grieving, we
are still sore… We just have to live with it.
What will Nigeria miss about the late ‘Big Boss’?
His name as we all know is a big market
anytime. Everybody wants to be associated with
him. He does his thing the right way it should be
done; not cutting corners.On the field as a
professional footballer in his active playing days,
even till retirement, it’s been the same thing. So
I think Nigeriaas a whole will miss the
professionalism this man brings to the fore.