Philosophers and theorists the world over have reflected on the essence of life and concluded on their diverse notions and perspectives. Their perceptions portray life as a dynamic existence that prides in its essence. William Shakespeare, for instance, believes that the world is a stage where humans are mere characters, acting out their scripts. In his classic play, As You Like It, Shakespeare imposes a script on his cast orator who delivers a speech entitled, “Seven Ages of Man”. In that floury oratory, Jacques says, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players”.
In another of his plays, Shakespeare presents life as an unsteady and transient being. He says, “Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more.” In both referents, the playwright makes a valid point. Life, in his eyes, is a temporal entity that potentially changes and adjusts with time. He believes that human existence is short, fleeting and unpredictable. Like a snowflake, life is ephemeral, melting away soon after it forms.
The case in point is the terrestrial journey of late Sir Eyo Edet Inuekim, Deputy Comptroller of Customs (Rtd). Undoubtedly, Eyo Inuekim may have had his divinely crafted script in the palm of his hands. Hence, he sauntered onto the life’s stage as a colossus and delivered his perfect performance with the mastery of a professional theatre artist. In the three major ‘stages’ of his life, he was emboldened to fully deliver his life’s mandate, knowing that time was certainly not on his side. Little wonder that in just 58 years of his existence, Chief Eyo took control of the stage as a career officer, community leader and church officer.
Eyo Inuekim who served from entry level through 10 of the 14 ranks in the service, left the play stage when his time was due. He joined the Nigeria Customs Service in 1988 as a Customs Assistant and moved 10 steps forward to the rank of a Deputy Comptroller of Customs. A brilliant Customs Officer, DC Eyo Inuekim served the Onne Port Command as the Customs Public Relations Officer for twelve years. While at the duty post, Sir Eyo served under 13 different Customs Area Comptrollers who all acknowledged his exceptional spirit of discipline and hard work. He was eventually promoted and transferred to Tarrif and Trade before getting redeployed to Valuation and posted to Clarion Bonded Terminal. Again, for his diligence and attitude to work, he was posted to Oyo/Osun Command as Officer in Charge of Valuation, and later as Post Clearance Audit combined.
An astute revenue officer with a thorough and meticulous approach to work, Chief Eyo Inuekim later got posted as Officer in Charge of Valuation, Mitchelle 11, Duncan and Stallion Motors Bonded Terminal. He moved to PTML as Post Clearance Audit Officer and was found worthy to be posted and charged with the mandate to open and operate Valuation Unit of the Service, the job he got done with commendations. After previously serving as the officer in charge, (OC) Valuation, Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos (Cargo Terminal), DC Eyo Inuekim, resumed duties as the DC, Enforcement at the Seme Area Command.
A community leader, whose love for humanity was ignited in his spirit from childhood, Chief Eyo Inuekim progressed, while giving service to mankind. Involved in many community based service groups and socio-cultural organizations, he was the President of Oron Union, Port Harcourt Branch from 1997 to 2001. He later served as Vice President General 1 (VPG 1) in Oron Union (World-wide) from 2011 to 2013. Eyo Inuekim equally became President-General of Fortune Club International, Lagos, on January 28, 2017. His exemplary leadership style was his most selling point as he gained re-election for the second and third consecutive terms, serving from January 2017 to December 2024. DC Inuekim was also a Trustee of Fortune Club International from January 2022. He similarly became Board of Trustees Member in Oro Nation Leadership Roundtable from 2020 till his death. His commitment to duties and the cause of humanity, qualified him for several chieftaincy titles, some of which are: Okete Okete Oro, Otuekong Ibesikpo, Uforo Afaha Ebughu, among others. He later became the Chairman of Retired/Serving Nigeria Customs Public Relations Officers Forum.
Born into the Methodist family, Eyo Inuekim was baptized at the Methodist Church Nigeria, D-Line, Port Harcourt, but was confirmed at MCN Mushin, Lagos in 1995. He served severally as a chairman or member of different committees of the church at local churches, circuits and diocesan levels, including spearheading the Five Year Development Plan Committee, Roofing and Publicity Committees of MCN, D-Line. At the PH Diocese, he was the Chairman of the 28th Anniversary Committee. A Patron of the Boys Brigade, Choir and Drama groups of the church, Sir Eyo Inuekim was both the Chairman of the Welfare Committee the President of the Men’s Fellowship at the Christ Methodist Church, Aguda. A committed servant of God, Eyo Inuekim earned the Diocesan Medal of Commendation (DMC) and in 2015, he was collated by the Conference of Methodist Church Nigeria into the rank of Officer of the Order of Wesley (OOW). Also, on May 12, 2019 at a young age of 53, Chief Eyo Inuekim was invested with honorific award of Knight of John Wesley (KJW) in recognition and appreciation of his invaluable contributions to the body of Christ and humanity.
Born on April 4, 1966, to the family of Late Chief Edet Inuikim Obon and Late Dame (Madam) Akon Inuikim Obon of Asak Ikang Ebughu in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, the young Eyo enrolled at the Amaigbo State School, Port Harcourt for his primary education in 1972. He later enrolled at the Methodist Central School, Ebughu, where he completed his primary school in 1977. Master Eyo then attended the St Vincent Secondary School, Oti-Oro in Okobo LGA from 1977 to 1982. Sir Eyo Inuekim would later get admitted into the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he graduated with BSc. in Public Administration between 2002 and 2006. Chief Eyo Inuekim also did several professional courses in the course of his career.
A cherished family man, a loving husband and a caring father, Sir Eyo Inuekim got married to his wife, Lady Ime Eyo Inuekim on Saturday, June 15, 2002. The union, diligently nurtured by God, is blessed with four adorable children of equal gender proportion. Yet, as his script folds up through his untimely transition on Monday, December 9, 2024, what remains of mankind is to reflect on the numerous achievements he recorded while alive. Of course, DC Eyo Inuekim is not departing in the context of death. He is ever fresh and alive the hearts of those who knew him.
Horace Mann, the Father of American Education (1796-1859) may have advised, “Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity.” But this is not the case with DC Inuekim. Although he goes the way of all mortals at the tender age of 58, he is not ashamed to cross the cosmic rift. Superfluous evidence abound to show that he won many victories for humanity. His gifted leadership aura which radiated through his cherished ideas to the growth and bonding of people around him, stand out as a testament to his deliberate pattern of existence. As Eyo Inuekim transits to the world beyond, leaving the transient glamour of this life, he smiles at his maker who awaits him at the gate. And, like Alfred Tennyson observes, he “hopes to see his pilot face to face as he crosses the bar.”
There in that city made of gold, he shall rejoice with the saints. The heavens celebrate at his birth. For as he crosses the cosmos to the realm beyond, his entry becomes a birth, fill with pomp and pageantry. While this heavenly birth rite endures in rhapsody, the earth grieves that he is no more here. As his remains becomes committed to mother earth this Saturday, March 15, 2023, his family, friends and loved ones are consoled in the words of James Shirley that, “Only the actions of the just/Smell sweet and blossom in their dust.”
Joseph Atainyang, and editor with WatchmanPost,
