Dr. Leon Usigbe’s passing is one of those difficult moments you struggle to take on the chin. Apart from sharing a profession we both love, Usigbe was a lover and reader of books of all genre.
I once met him clutching a title on military science and I inquired if his appetite for the printed matter had an inelastic frontier. He giggled!
In the build up to the 2019 general election, we flew to Owerri together at the behest of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar. Clutching a copy of George Orwell’s dystopian novel “1984,” which I planned to read again, Leon sat beside me, glanced at the title and the rest was history.
In about 20 minutes, he had summarized the book, offering his perspective and why in his reckoning, every political correspondent ought to read 1984. He faulted O’Brein, the principal character in the book, for his cowardly capitulation after a somewhat indoctrination in the ethos of the inner party.
He earned my respect with his mystery of Orwellian fictional world where two plus two equated a crime of grave consequences if the answer turns out to be four.
When a few years ago, he bagged his PhD, I congratulated him and we shared a hug that lasted for like a minute. He would later urged me to make sure I go for the prestigious degree as well and I gave my word.
Beats may have separated us in the past few years as he remained in the PDP Press Corps while I moved on to the House of Representatives but we frequently discussed books and football on Facebook.
His loyalty to Chelsea was classy and he was perhaps, the biggest detonator of the bombs thrown in our camp by Arsenal and Manchester United fans.
Rest in peace, Doc. If there is journalism in heaven, the Guild of Editors in that realm has gained a quintessential member. The beneficiary, of course, is the profession in that planet. Rest from your toil, “Fine Boy,” as I fondly calls you.