For want of appropriate coinage, the passing of Dr. Solomon Ehigiator Arase on the 31st of August, 2025 without mincing words, compounded my eternal mystery over the last 73 days. I had lost my immediate elder sibling, Ras Johnson Ikhide, the music activist, maestro on the 19th of July, 2025, whose sudden and untimely demise at age 53 I was still nursing before the sad news of Arase’s painful transition occurred.
It was followed by a near miss ghastly accident, having had my car tumbled thrice — smitten and crushed by Alhaji Aliko Dangote’s murderous truck driver on August 27th, 2025 on our hellish — decrepit death-trap called roads. I have been to real hell and back! For a fact, I have never be afraid of death and its untimeliness, life’s vanity and its vanishing entrapment, death’s piercing ferocity, or the stillness and the crushing emotional paralysis that goes with it. But I’m dreadful of death’s irreversibility, the morbid conclusion and its absolute finality.
Death’s finality can have a profound impact on those who are left behind. The irreversible nature of death, where an individual’s life comes to an end, and there is no possibility of revival or return, can be a difficult concept to grasp. The solace in the irreversibility of death — if any — is the universal truth of our helplessness as we endure the dripping agony, the lingering pang and pains, knowing that ‘man is a useless passion’.
The moment of grief and bereavement are natural responses to death, as I’m experiencing the range of emotions, including sadness, anger, and acceptance over the passing of these two great souls. This moment of truth about the irreversibility of death has prompted my existential reflections on the meaning and purpose of life — my own mortality — and the importance of making the most of the time I have left.
Surviving this grief-soaked bitter moment of my life reinforces my believe in families and friendship without which navigating the emotional and psychological impact of loss in the labyrinth of death would have been hugely depressing and traumatizing. Reflecting on the legacy of Dr. Solomon Ehigiator Arase and Ras Johnson Friday Ikhide is the finest ways to honor the cherished memories I shared with them for my weakened bones, soul and spirit, in order to make the most out of life and the existential implications of death.
The shocking and sudden demise of Ras Johnson Ikhide reminds me of our shared belief system and parallelism of transiting from physical sphere into spiritual realm as he roams and reincarnate nine or ten times in a new form without inhibitions, in the vision of his prophecy, as a mirror through which humanity sees itself.
Loosing Dr. Arase’s philanthropic initiatives with thousands of indigent students as beneficiaries of his free scholarship program, and as one of the very best Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Nigeria has ever had is literally evicerating. Having such an extremely forensic ultra-brilliant individual, demonstrable experienced, shed professionalism, selfless, humble, mature and a naturally liberated soul whose blemishes resonated in adorning the objectionable Nigeria Police uniform for 35 years in service, should be a study in the nation’s security architecture.
Dr. Solomon Ehigiator Arase had respect for the dignity of all the individuals he came in contact with in the course of his duties. In his interface with people he was an embodiment of integrity. His dedication to his job and fantastic motivation for self improvement which are characteristics of very great Police Officers right from the beginning of his career made him well suited to function as Principal Staff Officer (PSO), to three former IGPs.
May their illustrious souls rest in the bosom of eternal timer till we meet to part no more! Adieu!!
■ Erasmus Ikhide contributed this piece via: [email protected].
