Francis did not yet know whether he might get well, but he was preparing for his long journey.

Here lay a brilliant writer whose inner strength and willpower made him live longer than most other people bound to a wheelchair.

As I watched him, his inner strength seemed to diminish as his body faded away in agony.

I felt sad that I still had some unfinished business with him. The Provincial Disability Policy which he helped draft was yet to be launched.

He would not be present physically but he would be with us spiritually guiding us.

After some hours his wife Cathy rang to tell me that Francis had passed away.

My mind returns to one of the saddest days of my life. My heart broke and hot tears ran from my eyes.

But I was not present enough to comprehend the death of Francis Nii.

So his life had ended. He had shown us what was meant to be an authentic human being with unique qualities which enable him to conquer physical disability.

Within hours condolences flooded in from all corners; from those who knew Francis personally and many others, especially students who had read his books but never met him face to face.

Social media and Facebook offered headlines grieving his death. It showed his great impact on the life of others not only in Simbu and Papua New Guinea, but in Australia and other countries as well.

Francis’s intellectual ability and his facility as a mentor, philosopher, author, editor and publisher can not be questioned. Here was a genius who could solve complex issues. 

He was also a king of charity, a giver who received an abundance of love and respect. Even though he was in a wheelchair and looked helpless, he never had to beg from others.

Amidst all his difficulties he sustained a living, and was the bread winner of his family.

Francis would never want us to think that he was special, that he needed to be awarded with a Queen’s honour or looked upon as a hero to be praised for all his deeds.

He did not need to be a big name or even to become popular. He used his gifts to help others in need either in charity work or through writing and editing books and provide consultancy services.

When it came to social justice and fighting corruption or addressing human rights issues, Francis was always there to take the lead.

He was a critical political analyst; a man of courage who feared no politician, including the prime minister. In fact he played a crucial role in the downfall of Peter O’Neill.

In mid-2015 I gave the manuscript of my book to Francis Nii, it was a technical book and the most difficult book he had ever edited.

Francis had a hard time refining the information on drugs and their effects, content which was complicated for a non-pharmacologist or chemist to understand.

Peter Kepa, an editor for the English Teachers Association, also corrected my English grammar..  Francis in his wheelchair; Peter with a walking stick.

I also gave Philip Fitzpatrick a hard time and so his brother in law, a chemist with a PhD, helped us to check the scientific and technical aspects of my book.

Finally the book was published and is now in demand amongst schools in PNG. In its more recent second edition, I have added five new chapters. Francis is owed a lot.

Francis Nii did so much for me, not only editing books but providing other support that I needed.  My appreciation is not measured in monetary terms but priceless. I will always remember him as the most generous person I ever met.

There is no other person I ever experience the same relationship with as Francis. We never came to conflict in opinions or discussions of social issues.

His intellectual ability was beyond my scope and I listened to him attentively and took his prudent advice seriously.

Francis was my mentor and a shining star. May the angels in heaven welcome him as he is an example of God’s grace and a gift upon us.