To describe any “great excitement,” he would say, “There was commotion as if the Devil had suddenly walked into Heaven!”
Dr. Patrick Ityohegh, Officer of the Federal Republic, (OFR), winner of the 1998 Productivity Merit Award (NPMA), became the Director-General of Nigerian Television Authority, but he was always on the shop floor, showing the public the Sunny Side of Life.
Every evening, his home became entertainment centre. As help after help of pepper soup and drinks were being served, Patrick kept everyone holding their sides with laughter, and when I was around, warned them not to choke on their drinks on pain of my operating on them with the available table knife, without anaesthesia!
When he was in the US, he taught the Americans how to accurately pronounce his name, written Ityohegh, a spelling that tongue-tied them. “Just say EAT-YOUR-HEAD, the D is silent.” Try it. It’s a screamer, but it’s perfect!
A man with a generous heart. Whatever he had he shared with friends and acquaintances. Great public spirit. When he retired to Makurdi, he began to convert the town into a flower garden! He turned his residential area into a beautiful boulevard. He departed this earth on Wednesday 5th April 2017.
It’s now Seven years, but his love for humanity continues to live after him. When I die, let no one grieve for me, you mustn’t depress us, for I shall go straight to meet my friend, to laugh off the sunny side of wherever we find ourselves!
