By Comrade Monday Ameh
“The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.” – Bob Marley
The unfortunate news of Pa Michael Abu Momoh a.k.a Papa 1’s death on the chilling Sunday of 20th July, 2025 came as a huge shock as it hits a lot of us like a volcano, the reason is that he did not show any sign of serious sickness although he was sick on and off a common sign with the elderly.
An inference (Papa 1 may be very much aware of his impending death but elected not to stress, worry or bother anyone, hence he did not give anyone a clue so that nobody will be thrown into panic mode).
Papa 1 meant different thing to those who came across him directly or indirectly when he was alive, to some he was a teacher, father, a disciplinarian, an astute administrator, renowned Medical Lab Scientist, footballer, Consultant and community leader per excellence.
To me, Papa 1 was a foremost mentor, l will proudly say that he mentored me as l learnt so much from him because he was an enigma and a reservoir of knowledge.
With nostalgia, when I moved into this Community, my path and Papa 1 crossed immediately. He was our Chairman during the time under reference, and I remembered that the very first meeting of the community l attended l was very impressed and captivated by his wisdom, dexterity, zeal and passion for service and because I made a contribution to the issue on discourse he discovered me with alacrity and we became very close henceforth.
And without hesitation he started saddling me with tasks and addressing me as a PRO even without election. If you have the zeal and passion for community service, you are an automatic friend of Papa 1.
The dedication and resilience of our dear late Papa 1 even at his old age was immeasurable and indeed a catalyst to anyone who wants to contribute to Community development.
As an elder statesman who ordinarily suppose to watch things happen from either behind the scenes or from the sidelines he chose to lead from the front like an army commander, commanding a troop or battalion.
Pa Momoh was a prolific and excellent writer, after each of our meeting, he will hit the ground running immediately by writing several letters to relevant agencies demanding for one thing or another that will benefit the residents/community.
Without exaggeration, Papa 1 put our dear Community on the podium of recognition and respect within Bwari Area Council and its environs. Need l say that because of his uprightness and boldness our Community is feared till now and forever because if he put pen to paper and write against poor service delivery or any act of corruption by any official of government heads will not only roll but they are always interventions and solutions.
For instance, he contributed immensely towards the acquisition and installation of the transformer in front of his house which is christened Papa Transformer.
And if not for him, the transformer would have since been vandalized or tempered with but for his ever vigilance and incorruptible nature, the AEDC officials fear Papa Transformer like a plague and no one dare to tamper with it, no wonder it has served us for over 15 years and still counting.
Papa 1 was not just a custodian of the Papa Transformer, he provides swift solutions during power outage or when the transformer malfunctioned, AEDC in Jigo and Bwari knew him for that.
This brings us to the question on the lips of everyone who now guard the transformer like Papa 1?
Under his leadership, the community recorded humongous achievements worthy of mention is the enactment of a constitution and the registration of the Community with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) known as ASSOCIATION OF USHAFA VILLAGE EXPANSION SCHEME COMMUNITY RESIDENTS (A.U.V.E.S.C.R) for lack of space we cannot Chronicle his entire achievements, even until his peaceful passing, he was still serving the Community actively, through the ongoing Bye-Laws amendment/review, (we need to conclude the work on time in his honour) and not forgetting his invaluable contribution on the issue of Tenement Rate wherein he will always cite the Australian example.
The reason we call or nickname him Papa 1.
It is simply because Pa Momoh is a no nonsense person, no matter how wealthy or highly placed one is, you cannot dare intimidate him as he has seen it all, never, he was very courageous, witty and bold. During disagreement in meetings when the atmosphere is very tensed and we want to calm him down we will call him Papa 1 and he will just smile and the resolution that will be reached on such matter will always be in line with majority opinions.
Papa 1 despite being a senior citizen that attained the pinnacle of his career; who was retired but never tired, he was exceptionally very selfless, with the stipends he got as his monthly pension he use part of it to serve the community through printing of letters, fuelling of his vehicle to keep appointments and engage with government officials and stakeholders, his act of generosity towards the community course is indiscribable and it is worthy of emulation to all of us present and future leaders.
Papa 1 was an upright man and of high integrity, he will vehemently resist any suggestion aimed at bribing government officials, he will say pointedly they’re paid for doing their job.
Perhaps his upbringing shaped him to abhors corruption, story was told of the intelligent little Papa 1 (when Men were Boys), he wrote an exam for scholarship he came out top but one of the teacher swapped his paper with that of his son, when the results were released people contested his result or performance because they knew the stuff he was made of and with pressure on the school authority the exam was eventually cancelled and rescheduled and while he was in the field playing football with his fellow peers as a prolific striker, he was whisked from the field of play straight into the exam hall, he wrote the exam and still came out top of the class and earned his deserved scholarship from the expatriates, the rest they said is history.
Pa Momoh is a man of due process, because he studied abroad he always advocate for not just due process to be followed through in every matter but he will want things done according to international best practice.
Papa is a Church man, a prominent Elder in Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) FCT, Abuja where he is well known and respected for playing frontline roles in the establishment of many of the Church branches in the city Centers and suburbs alike. In ECWA Ushafa until his death he was a Catechism/Sunday School instructor and a marriage counselor.
You can now see why our Community, ECWA and indeed all who knew him will greatly miss his enduring legacies.
The life and death of Papa 1 is a good lesson for us all, we are very much aware that death is inevitable, but after death what will the living remember each of us for, will people remember us for good or bad? this is a question for reflection.
Let us emulate the worthy legacies of Papa 1, his life of integrity should be our compass and model, his steadfastness, resilience and dedication should propel us to serve our community selflessly no matter the status.
His phenomenal contributions to the Community will remain indelible as he has left a footprints in the sands of time.
It is gratifying to note that the death of Papa 1 is uniting us in view of the supports, uncommon cooperation and financial contributions by our members across Streets and Zones in the estate; and he will be more happier for the unprecedented unity his death brought as this was exactly what he always wish for during his lifetime.
I wish to use this medium to suggest that we immortalize Papa 1 through a collective efforts of all of us to build a Community Hall and name it after him in order to keep his memory in our sub-consciousness even beyond our generation and generations yet to come.
As we bid Papa 1 farewell today, may God in his infinite mercy forgive his shortcomings and grant him eternal rest, Amen.
I/we convey my/our heartfelt condolences to the Momohs and all of us for the irreplaceable loss of our dearly beloved Papa 1.
We love you, but God loves you most and it pleased him to call you back to himself now.
Regardless, we submit to the will of God almighty as Papa 1 is carried home on the Angels wings.
Papa 1 as we fondly call you, as you journey home to meet your creator, this poem is dedicated to your loving memory:
IF TEARS COULD BUILD A STAIRWAY:
If tears could build a stairway,
and memories a lane.
I would walk right up to Heaven
and bring you back again.
No farewell words were spoken,
No time to say “Goodbye”.
You were gone before I knew it,
and only God knows why.
My heart still aches with sadness,
and secret tears still flow.
What it meant to love you –
No one can ever know.
But now I know you want me
to mourn for you no more;
To remember all the happy times
life still has much in store.
Since you’ll never be forgotten,
I pledge to you today~
A hollowed place within my heart
is where you’ll always stay.
AUTHOR: UNKNOWN
Indeed it is fitting to say of you (veni, vidi, vici, you came, you saw and you conquered).
You will be greatly missed.
ADIEU PAPA 1, THE FATHER OF ALL
Written by COMRADE MONDAY AMEH, PRO
