The family, friends, associates and former schoolmates of the late human rights activist Tony Uranta on Thursday held the first-year memorial of his death.
Mr Uranta, 67, died on November 24, 2021, at the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital (LUTH).
His wife Baarong Tony-Uranta said at the memorial that her heart still hurts and feels empty.
Speaking with reporters at the memorial held at Uranta’s residence in Lagos, the widow said though she was convinced her husband was with God, she could not help but feel lonely and saddened.
“Not a day passes that I cannot help but shed tears of sadness and Joy. Sadness because he is gone and the challenges I face as a widow, and Joy because I know he lived a good life and is with God.
“TIU was my love, my backbone and a great dad to my daughter, Amy. We cannot wish for a better husband and father.
“He left shoes too big for me to fill, not just as a single parent now but as a philanthropist.
“We had a home that was open to all. He had so many people he was taking care of financially. I try but it is not just easy to do all we did together for humanity while he was alive.
“I am still trying to find my feet and with God’s help, I know I will survive the blow, at least for our child and all those he took care of,” she said.
Baarong expressed gratitude to those who were there for the family in those trying times, especially the House on the Rock church, for their support during the funeral in Lagos and in Queenstown, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
She, however, said that her late husband was a warrior and change agent, who always imagined a restructured Nigeria even on his sick bed.
“He was always imagining how to advance the cause of one Nigeria. I will continue to pray for his lofty dreams to come true,” she said.
