A REFLECTION ON PROFESSOR PETER NDUMBE ‘S PASSING AWAY
“SECOND PETER”
You know of course how you became known as “Second Peter”. Whether it was by coincidence or divine setting, a group of us who frequented the home of The Rev. Prof. Bame Bame, (of blessed memory), were all Peters. In order to avoid any confusion Mrs Anne Bame decided to tag us with numbers in accordance to our ages. I was Ist Peter, you where 2nd Peter, Peter Kumche was 3rd Peter and Peter Essoka Jnr. was 4th Peter. We also had another Peter whom we referred to as “miscellaneous”. That was Peter Mafany Musonge. The tagging became symbolic because it bound us together in our spiritual and daily journeys.
Now you decided that you would no longer be part of us. You must be joking, because no matter how far you think you have gone, that special cord linking us will forever remain. In my mind you will always be “Second Peter”. I know you would giggle at my foolhardiness but you must understand that even fools too can be wise.
“Mr Essoka”, for so you would say when you wanted to address me formally, “stop reflecting on me big bro”.
You know, “Second Peter”, you were so much fun to be around, but see how much fun you’ve made of life. At a very young age, you were an elder of the church in Yaoundé, when the PCC was just spreading its tentacles to East of the Moungo. You were only a student, yet you were very active in your church. You never relented.
You became a “big doctor and professor” but in all of these, “Second Peter”, you stayed steadfast. You were chief of the youth as you encouraged the CYF. You were the most prolific and versatile patron of the Congregational Choir, PC Bastos. You always rendered yourself accessible in your humility and generosity. But I never knew you would behave like the other Peter, the Apostle who in the face of danger, chickened out and denied his Master. I never knew you were such a coward as to succumb so easily to this monster we call death.
“Second peter” I thought of you as a very resistant, strong and brave young man. Mother told me never to reprimand a dead man. I don’t consider you dead anyway. You have just temporarily given up your existence in this life. For me, I still consider you as being here and listening to me chide, scold or rebuke you for this cowardly act.
You do not know how much you have broken our hearts. You always talk to me about your mother. So who will talk to me about her now? Especially in her state of ill health!
It hurts to see you go. But who am I to stop what God had planned? “Second Peter”, the other Peters asked me, as First Peter, to tell you we are certain you are basking in the warmth of God’s Bosom. We too are on our way to join you some day.
P E A C E
PETER ESSOKA (First Peter)