Life is short and brutish. Joy Ayoola Philip (the Iron Lady), whom I fondly called “my joyful Joy”, died on Sept. 12, eight days to her 25th birthday. Cause of her death is yet uncertain to us. Last Monday, two days after her demise, her Germany visa was ready. She first told me about her plans to relocate to Germany in March. I offered my advice to her and she accepted it as usual. Unfortunately, as fate would have it, the visa came when Joy’s corpse was lying in a morgue here in Abuja. The body was taken to her hometown in Benue State on Friday and buried yesterday, the eve of her 25th birthday. Today is her first post-humous birthday!
Hmm! Rest in peace, my Iron Lady. I am sure you’re calling (me) “T-ee-jaaay!”, as you did in your time, smiling at this post right now inside the hammered box your remains will forever live in.
You’ll be sorely missed.