Tribute to Reuben Eghobor (1934-2026): A Life Well Lived

My first encounter with Mr Reuben Eghobor took place in Freetown, Sierra Leone, in the 1990s, where he was visiting his son, Kingsley Lington, a native of Nigeria.

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Kingsley, along with his friend Tony Hesmart, had founded the Concord Times newspaper a few years prior, which unexpectedly became a huge success due to its lively and well-written content, including in-depth interviews and profiles of key leaders of the National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC).

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Their publication shed light on the mysterious and amorphous group known as the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), providing the public with a unique insight into the lives of these military leaders, complete with glamorous photos of them in smart uniforms and Ray-Ban glasses.

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The success of the Concord Times was largely due to the fresh perspective its founders brought, having arrived from Liberia, where they had reported on Charles Taylor's war for the Lagos-based African Concord magazine, owned by Chief MKO Abiola.

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As a contributor to the paper, I had the opportunity to get to know Kingsley and Tony quite well, and I developed a close friendship with Kingsley, who struck me as cerebral and charming in a subtle way.

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When Kingsley's father, Mr Eghobor, arrived in Freetown around 1995, I was introduced to him, and I was immediately drawn to his direct and unaffected style, as well as his youthful appearance, despite being over 60 years old at the time.

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Mr Eghobor shared with me the story behind his nickname "Baby Face," and I was amused by his mischievous smile and the way he seemed to have a special charm, particularly with the opposite sex, a trait that appeared to be hereditary, given Kingsley's similar charm.

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He also introduced me to a local herbal alcoholic drink called 'clinic', which he swore by as his elixir, and I was struck by his enthusiasm and energy.

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A memorable incident occurred when a neighbour of Kingsley's, a Creole, prepared a traditional meal of fufu and egusi stew in honour of Mr Eghobor, but he was taken aback by the offering, considering it inferior to pounded yam in Nigerian culture.

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The next time I saw Mr Eghobor was in 2005, when he attended Kingsley's wedding in Freetown, and he was just as vibrant and charismatic as before, dominating the stage with his humour and conviviality, and still enjoying his 'clinic' and charming the crowd with his wit.

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At the wedding reception, he gave a speech that left the audience in stitches, and when he asked for another round of applause for "Baby Face," the crowd erupted in laughter and applause, a testament to his enduring charm and charisma.

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I had the pleasure of spending more time with Mr Eghobor in 2008, when I visited him in his hometown of Ekpoma, where Kingsley was hosting a ceremony to mark the completion of his new house, and I was struck by the old man's larger-than-life presence and generosity.

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During my stay, Mr Eghobor invited me to join him at his favourite joint, where he introduced me to his friends, a group of charming old men who were having a great time, enjoying palm wine, gin, and local food, and I felt privileged to be a part of their gathering.

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He shared stories about his political activities, including his appointment as a Director of Ukpilla Cement Company in the 1980s, and I found his company to be enjoyable and enlightening.

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After that, I saw Mr Eghobor on two more occasions, once in New York, when he visited Kingsley, and again in Florida, where he attended his son's doctoral graduation, and on both occasions, he was his usual energetic and charming self.

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In Florida, he even danced with joy, removing his shoes and placing them on his head, a moment that I will always treasure, and it was the last time I saw him before his passing.

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I was shocked to hear of his death at the age of 92, and I received the news while attending a conference in Davos, Switzerland, where I got a text message from Kingsley, saying simply "Lost my dad this morning."

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I called Kingsley and we spoke briefly, and then I wrote him a message expressing my condolences, saying that his father was a gentleman of great charm and generosity, who had lived a fulfilled life and would be deeply missed.

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I concluded my message by saying that although his passing was a great loss, it was comforting to know that he had departed this world a happy man, surrounded by his loved ones, and I ended with a heartfelt "Rest in heaven, Pa Reuben."