Taghogho Von Apochi

My father, Isaac Osevwe Apochi, did not steal crude oil or diesel from Shell Petroleum Development Company during his tenure from 1979 to 2005, he was a leader and a prolific engineer. Though I was tempted to accuse him of not being like his peers who built mansions and bought luxury cars with illicit proceeds, the profound moral lessons my mother instilled in us during morning devotions and through the Sunbeam and Royal Ambassador classes at the Baptist Church in Ughelli, Nigeria, shaped my thinking and values thus refraining from such thought ridiculous thought of comparing the noble man with his peers. These lessons taught me that proceeds from criminality amount to nothing but vanity. My father would often tell me, "A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold" (Proverbs 22:1, Bible). He would say, "I am comfortable where I am and satisfied with what I earned." Bless his memory, my father passed away in December...