HRH Prof Chukwuemeka Ike is dead.
Words can't describe this man... His death is a big loss to the literary world, to his community Ndikelionwu, the entire Anambra State.
THE BOTTLED LEOPARD was amongst his popular works..
He died at 88!
May his soul rest in peace. Amen.
Meanwhile
Eze Chukwuemeka Ike Heartbreakingly In Search For His Only Grandsonhttps://www.nairaland.com/5234146/eze-chukwuemeka-ike-heartbreakingly-search
EZE PROFESSOR CHUKWUEMEKA IKE HEARTBREAKINGLY IN SEARCH FOR HIS ONLY GRANDSON AND ONLY SURVIVING OFFSPRING.
His majesty Eze Prof. Chukwuemeka Ike, Ugwu Aro, OFR, NNOM, Ikelionwu X1. Eze Ndikelionwu, a writer of note and author SUNSET AT DAWN, THE BOTTLED LEOPARD and many other novels is the traditional ruler of Ndikelionwu community in Orumba North Local government area of Anambra State. He is now 88 years old and married to Ugoeze Prof. Adebimpe Ike who will turn 86 years on June 29, 2019.
They had an only child Prince Ositadinma Nnanyelugo Olusaya Adeolu Ike (hereinafter referred to as Prince Osita). Prince Osita who died on December 16, 2016 was married to Princess Osarunwense Eghosa Ike (daughter of chief Prof. Emmanuel U. Emovon, CON, FAS, KSP, JP Obayagbona of Benin Kingdom.
The marriage between Prince Osita and Princess Osaru was blessed with the birth of Prince Chukwuemeka Osaretin Ayoade Ike(hereinafter referred to as the Chukwuemeka Ike II) who was born on January 23, 1998. He is now 21 years old.
In the course of our long-standing relationship and friendship with Prof Ike family, it came to our notice that there is a sorrowful and heartbreaking situation which is silently and gradually tearing Prof Ike family and eating them up and thereby dragging them even nearer to their graves. Chukwuemeka Ike II is the only surviving offspring of the Prof. Ike family and they have not seen him or heard from him since he was 11 years.
From the information available to us, the marriage between Prince Osita and Princess Osaru didn't go well and they were in the middle of divorce proceedings when Prince Osita sadly died in 2016. Even before the commencent of the divorce proceedings, chukwuemeka Ike II has been taken away to a place unknown to Ike family to which they didn't and still do not have access. The worst part of the situation is that Ike family do not have any information regarding the whereabouts of Chukwuemeka Ike II despite all the efforts they had made for several years requesting access and or information from Prof Emovon Family.
The grandparents of Chukwuemeka Ike II are both over 86years and gradually but painfully nearing their graves in the knowledge that they have a 21 year old grandson_ the heir apparent to the Ndikelionwu throne and only surviving offspring of Prof Ike family who they do not have access to. This is the unfortunate and sad situation we have on our hands for which reason we raise the following issues/questions to wit:
1, Are the Prof Ike family entitled to access to Chukwuemeka Ike II?
2, Are the Prof Ike family entitled to information regarding the whereabouts of Chukwuemeka Ike II?
3, Is it fair and just to deny and continue to deny Prof Ike family access and contact to Chukwuemeka Ike II?
4, Having attained the age of 21 years, is it fair and just to deprive and continue to deprive Chukwuemeka Ike II of the love, care and access to his paternal grandparents?
It is in search of the above issues/questions that we passionately appeal to the conscience of the general public and well-meaning Nigerians to bring it to bear on Prof. Emovon particularly Princess Osaru to bring this painful and tortuous episode to an end. In making this appeal, we state that the sole purpose of this exponsure is not only to let Prof Ike family to know the whereabouts of their grandson- Chukwuemeka Ike II but also to have access to him. This will bring joy and happiness to their lives again so that even when to they are dying, they will die a happy death. Also in making this appeal, we state that we are not oblivious of the fact that both families may have made some mistakes in doing what they ought not to have done and in saying what they ought not to have said. We are not ready to apportion blames. All we seek is that this matter comes to an end.
Foremost Nigerian novelist, Chukwuemeka Ike, is dead
Renowned Nigerian novelist and traditional ruler of Ndikelionwu, Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ike, is dead.
The literary icon died on Thursday at the Nnamdi Azikwe Teaching Hospital in Nnewi, Anambra State, at age 88 after a brief illness.
A close friend who spoke on the condition of anonymity told PREMIUM TIMES that the late novelist’s health had deteriorated ever since his only son’s death in 2016.
His son, Ositadinma Ike, had married a daughter of a Benin Chief, Osarunwense Eghosa, but the marriage hit rock bottom at the last days of Ositadinma.
Though blessed with a son named after the late novelist, Chukwuemeka Junior, family disagreements meant the Ike family no longer had access to Chukwuemeka Jnr. after their son’s death.
The event was said to have saddened the writer who longed to see his only grandchild and heir.
“When I saw him during the last Christmas, he was really heart-broken and was in deep trauma over his inability to meet his grandchild,” the close associate told PREMIUM TIMES.
There was a public appeal made by Mr Ike’s close friends who worried over Mr Ike’s broken heart to find the whereabouts of Chukwuemeka Jnr. Until his death, the boy’s whereabouts remained unknown.
Mr Ike is survived by his wife, Adebimpe Ike.
‘Embittered’
A lawyer and close associate to the late novelist, Abel Odo, said he was embittered by the shocking news.
He described the loss of his friend as rather “heart-shattering” and that he would be missed greatly.
A former President, Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) and professor of English at the University of Ibadan, Remi-Raji Oyelade, expressed sadness over the the novelist’s death, saying he would be remembered for his memorable novels.”
The don described Me Ike as “a literary administrator who coordinated the Nigerian Book Foundation for many years._
“He was very supportive of the arts; even as the Eze of his people, Prof Ike continued to connect with Nigerian writers as individuals and as groups or associations. And he was a great alumnus of UI,” Mr Oyelade told PREMIUM TIMES.
Former PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, also shared his grief on the death of the novelist.
Mr Abubakar on Twitter said: “I mourn one of Nigeria’s prolific novelists &traditional ruler of Ndikelionwu in Anambra State, HRH (Prof) Chukwuemeka Ike (the Ikelionwu IX).
“He will be remembered for his classics:Toads for Supper &Sunset at Dawn among others. May he rest in peace.
Profile
Born on April 23, 1931 in Ndikelionwu, Anambra State, Mr Ike was part of the golden set of pioneer African writers and drew motivation from the late novelist, Chinua Achebe.
He began his writing journey from school days at Government College, Umuahia, where he wrote fearlessly in the school magazine, The Umuahian.
His first story ever written, ‘A Dreamland’ was published in The Umuahian and set his foot on the literary space.
He would later explore the space more when he entered the University College, Ibadan. Quickly noting his writing acumen, Mr Achebe adopted him into the literary circle of the time that wrote about politics on campus and nationally. His literary output was well praised with profundity in mirroring African and Igbo cultures.
Such is seen in his authored works like Toads for Supper (1965), The Naked God’s (1970), The Potter’s Wheel (1973), Sunset and Dawn (1976), Expo ’77 (1980), The Bottled Leopard (1985), Our Children are coming (1990).
Aside from writing, he served as an academic in different roles such as a lecturer at the University of Ibadan, registrar at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and visiting professor at the University of Jos.
He was also a former registrar of the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), the first Nigerian to hold the position.
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/372138-foremost-nigerian-novelist-chukwuemeka-ike-is-dead.html
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