Posted by By Ise-Oluwa Ige on
We had thought we would see again and re-unite with one another as usual before our call to the bar. We had thought we would feature prominently in her wedding ceremony scheduled for December this year.
ABUJA - 'We had thought we would see again and re-unite with one another as usual before our call to the bar. We had thought we would feature prominently in her wedding ceremony scheduled for December this year. When she was traveling abroad to finalise arrangements for these ceremonies and bade us farewell, we never knew it was a final bye-bye. We are more in pain because we would never see her again here in this world! Not even her remains. But, Atine, Atine, Atine, adieu! However, we are comforted by our belief that there is really life after death and we believe we will definitely meet again."
These were the exact ‘‘mourning'' words of three of Atine's school mates who filed into the Abuja newsroom of the Vanguard newspapers last Sunday to protest the non-celebration of their departed friend.
They alleged that since their colleague died, no newspaper had written anything about her while some others who died same day and time in an air accident were well celebrated.
Atine was one of the 117 passengers who lost their lives in the October 22 Bellview Flight 210 crash at Lisa in Ogun state. Her name was number 13 on the manifest.
The deceased friends who came to the Abuja Vanguard office were Edom Basil Elvis, Ordu Okachi and Okechukwu Nwafor Fedinand.
Edom delivered the ode on behalf of the others while others also chipped in intermittently.
The foursome of Edom, Okachi, Okechukwu and the late Atine read Law at the University of Abuja between 1998 and 2004. They also attended Law School, Bwari together. The quartet were inseparable since they met about seven years ago on campus until October 22, this year when death snatched away the only female among them, Atine, from the group.
But for her involvement in the air mishap, 29-year old Law graduate of the Abuja University, Miss Atine Grace Adamu, is supposed to be called to bar with her friends this month.
In fact, on the list of Law graduates to be called to bar next week Wednesday (November 9), Atine's name appears as number 14.
She is among those to be called to bar in the morning session of the three day ceremony, having successfully completed her one year professional training at the Nigerian Law School, Bwari, Abuja.
Besides, Atine was also billed to be led to the altar next month by her heartthrob, Daniel, who is based in the States.
According to Okechukwu, one of the deceased's school friends, 'from our seven year interactions, I got to know that Atine had nursed two major ambitions in life: She told me that from childhood, she had longed to read Law and practise it while the other ambition is to be happily married with children.
'She struggled hard, disciplined herself to ensure that these goals were achieved but unfortunately she only succeeded in reading Law but could not practice it. Worse still, she also succeeded in getting a man, Daniel, who loved her dearly, even in death, but could not live to settle down happily with him.
'Atine's regret is my regret," Okechukwu, added, in an emotion-laden voice.But I will like to make an appeal. I want to ask that even though she is no more, she should still be called to bar posthumously. She suffered a lot to read Law. She sweated to pass her law school examination. The only thing the relevant authourities could do to honour her is to call her to bar posthumously," he added.