Bonny Kingdom in Rivers State, Nigeria says she lost a gem in the now demised erudite academic and former Deputy Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University (RSU), Professor Howells Idaerefagha Hart.
Vice Chairman of the Bonny Chiefs Council (BCC) and Supervising Chief of the Bonny Environment Consultants Committee (BECC), Se-Alabo Hanniel Jack-Wilson Pepple said this on Tuesday, February 16, 2021 when he led a delegation of the committee on a condolence visit to the wife of the late Professor of Mechanical Engineering in Port Harcourt.
“We are very sorry for your irreparable loss. As a Kingdom, we lost a gem; as a Kingdom, we lost a very important personality.”
“It is very challenging this period that we are in now where his experience and knowledge would have been put into use for the Kingdom; death came knocking.”
“It is sad but then much as the Bible enjoins each of us that whatever happens in all situations we say ‘God thank you’. Why? It is because God knows the best.”
He assured the families of the late Thermodynamics maestro of the continued support of Bonny Kingdom and BECC in this time of distress, urging them to take solace in God who would surely avail them the strength to go through this phase of their lives.
“We are there for you, please accept our sympathies. God will give you strength because now you are fully in charge and only God can give you the strength.
“The God that drives the flies from a tailless cow will also be with you. Please convey our condolences to the immediate and extended families.”
Responding, wife of the late academic, Mrs. Faustina Hart said the demise of her husband was a bit surprising as he passed after just two weeks of ill health, revealing that prior to his sudden death, Prof Howells Hart was in the United States sourcing for intellectual resources to arm himself with in his new role as Chairman of BECC.
“We were in the US and he was buying some books. He said these were the books he was hoping he would use to pilot the committee.”
“It is unfortunate, two weeks after he was sick he died. For more than 40 years we have been married I have never had cause to take him to a hospital. But then it is an appointment we all will have to keep.”
“Many times we forget that he (death) would come for you and when he comes, like you said, Sir, you have no choice. What gives me joy is that he is a devout Christian and we have no doubt where he is.”
Mrs. Hart expressed her confidence in the Almighty God granting her the fortitude to bear the loss and also hold her family together, thanking Chief Jack-Wilson Pepple and the BECC members for the visit.
“On the task of holding the house together I am trusting that God will give me the grace. We are very grateful that you found time out of your busy schedules to come and condole with us.”
On the BECC delegation were the Vice Chairman, Prof. Ibitoru Hart, Secretary, Sir Amairigha Hart, Assistant Secretary, Smart Halliday, and members, Akie Hart, Dr Belema Idodo, and Godswill Jumbo.
Professor Howells Idaerefagha Hart, a Professor of Mechanical Engineering with specialization in Pollution from Oil and Gas Combustion and Thermodynamics, was appointed by the Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Edward Pepple III, CON, Perekule XI, as Chairman of the reconstituted Bonny Environment Consultants Committee (BECC), which was inaugurated on Friday, January 8, 2021, at the King Perekule Palace, Bonny, exactly 26 days before his death.
The realization of the fact that death is an appointment we all have to keep with out choice of time or location.It opens only one option and that option is working hard to enter into an eternal peace with God.