The family of Dr. Leon Usigbe, the late head of the Nigerian newspapers of the Abuja office, whose remains rested on Saturday at his residence in Karshi, he abuses, in the midst of tears and groans, they returned to the church for the Thanksgiving Day.
Dr. Usigbe, an consummated and recognized journalist, died on July 25, 2025 after a brief disease. Until his death, it was the correspondent of the House of Representatives of the newspapers of Tribune Nigeria.
Speaking after the Thanksgiving in the Catholic Church of San Patricio, Karshi, the eldest son of Dr. Usigbe, Leroy, thanked the parishioners, family, friends and colleagues who came from everywhere to stand with the family in their time of need, promising to love more people while his father was alive.
He said: “We came to thank God, thank you for the life of my father, Dr. Leon Usigbe. That’s why we came here today, with family and friends, to thank for his life. Although he lived a short life, he lived a good life.
“I really appreciate them. I saw that there was a great participation, there was a massive crowd. I did not expect this participation. I know that my father knew many people, but the crowd that I saw, especially yesterday during the burial, was overwhelming. I appreciate everyone’s love, and I wish you a safe trip where they came from, because people came from much and so on.
“There are many things that I have learned from him after his death, because the father who knew inside and the father who knew outside, that people knew, is slightly different. But the only thing I would like to emulate now is how he loved everyone. I am introverted, I am silent, I am not someone who speaks a lot. So I do not have much, as, if it were now, now I can say that they may tell me 20 people who saw me see me.
“There were so many people, so many people loved him. There were people crying that I didn’t even know. So now, looking at all this, I think I need to be more open, I need to talk more, I need to be more friendly with people and be less alone.
Leroy said the family would take to heal the loss, since this was the first time they experienced some of that nature. He advised those whose parents are still alive to take photos and videos with them as memories, since the simple memories vanish.
“Well, I would say that the time heals everything, so, you know, we will improve. But yesterday it was … it was a feeling that, unless you have experienced it, you really cannot say it. It’s like when someone loses a loved one, you say, ‘ah, my condolences’. It’s just a phrase,’ my condolences. Your heart and you can’t do anything about it.
“The crying obviously cannot do anything. Money can do nothing. Being angry cannot do anything. So you don’t know what to do with your emotions. You are there, sad, angry, angry. You don’t even know who being angry, because he was sick. It wasn’t like that they didn’t say to me. It is strong.
“It’s fine, so I’m someone who doesn’t take photos much, you know. So I would tell people that any opportunity you have, take photos or videos with your parents, take photos with your dad. There were several times that he would come to my house and relax, just talk, blah, blah. And that is more or more.
“I was even looking for a selfie with him, and I found only three. Only three selfies in my whole life with him, because I barely take photos. So I would tell people, no matter how close you are with your parents, take photos and videos. Those are the things you will look and appreciate. Only the memoirs, the images help you cling to those moments.”
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