Precisely on Sunday 14 July, 2024 a call from one of the aides of Honourable Ekene Adams woke me up with a request for the telephone number of Honourable Silas Agara who was just appointed as the boss of NDE by President Bola Tinubu. Honourable Ekene Adams wanted to Congratulate Honourable Agara who is also the Chairman of the Nigerian Nationwide League.

Honourable Ekene had called me  earlier in June, we spoke extensively on various way to develop sports in the country, especially football. He did made a promise that he intended to redeem at the end of July 2024.

He is always one of those,  that will read the Exclusivenews Newspaper on Saturday mornings. He told me his favorite is the "Box 18". Little wondered how shocked I was, when I heard of his death early on Tuesday 16th July.

Too bad of me, Honourable Ekene Abubakar Adams, had severally extended invitations to me to visit him at the National Assembly, one thing or another will make such not to be possible. All due to my fault. To be fair to him, hardly would Honourable Adams hold any programme that involves the media without involving me. Even If i didn't attend, any fallouts from such meetings, he must insisted that it be  extended to Odogwu. Just recently, i joked with him on a platform, he immediately made available a large such of money to some member of the platform for "breakfast". My pains remain that we saw last in 2017, and he still maintained a friendship that started casually.

He was someone who valued relationship, and  maintained it to the fullest. 

In 2014/2015 football season, the position of the Team Manager of the then FC Abuja was vacant, and three persons applied for it, Ekene happened to be one, myself and one other person whom I can't remember now. 

On the day of the interview, i boarded a bus from Gwagwalada to Garki. Seated beside me was a youngman dressed in a national team attire, i knew he was a sports man. We exchanged pleasantries and started discussing. We found out that we were going for the same interview, and had applied for the same position. We there and then promised to work with whoever emerged at the end of day. We boarded the same taxi to venue, and held hands into the hall to the amusement of the panelists. After the interview, it was a difficult one for the panelists to decide, but using other indices, Ekene was given the job. True to my words, I support him all through his tenure, then I was a Board member of the FCT Football Association. I remembered vividly that the then Chairman of FCT Coaches Godwin Bamigboye was the Chairman of the Panel, supported by the present Chairman of FCT Referees Mr Hashimu among others were members of the panel.

 That was how the friendship started, and Honourable Ekene Adams never forgot all through his life.He truly valued friendship. Yes, he did!!. Immediately he emerged to represent
Chikun/Kajuru in the Federal Constituency of Kaduna State on the platform of the Labour Party (LP), he appointed virtually all his media aides from FCT SWAN. Not minding where they were coming from. He was a detribalised Nigerian. None of those he appointed, was from his state neither from his constituency.

He was passionate about football. He ate, and drank football. He hardly discuss any other thing than football.

Little wondered that despite his ill health while serving as  the Chairman of the House of Representative Committee on sports, when it comes to development of sports and athletes welfare, he never joked with it.

Ekene was a footballer, he once played for Kwara United after playing for some local clubs in Kaduna. He was the Team Manager of FC Dender. A team he pioneered until it metamorphosed to Remo stars of Ikenne. He was the General manager of Kada stars Football Club and Remo Stars at different times, before winning the House of Representatives seat in the 2023 general election.

During this short tenure, he supported Loca Crocodiles of Kaduna that missed promotion to the NNL by an inch this season.

Honorable Ekene Abubakar Adams was a good man. He had contributed his quota. He had touched lives. He is now gone, and gone forever. We will miss him. Adieu, Honorable Ekene Adams former Team Manager FC Dender, Former Team Manager, Remo stars, Former Team Manager FC Abuja, Former General Manager, Kada Stars, Former General Manager, Remo Stars. We will meet at the last day, to depart no more. Rest in Peace, my dear friend.