Governors, Ibori, others pay tribute to Pa Okowa

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Monday, described the late Pa Arthur Okowa, father of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, as a man of great substance who left a marvellous legacy.

Wike stated this when he led a delegation from Rivers on a condolence visit to Gov. Okowa at the Government House, Asaba.

He said that he was in Delta to commiserate with the Okowa family, the government and people of Delta over the loss of the patriarch of the Okowa family and the Majority Leader of the Delta State House of Assembly, Mr Tim Owhefere.

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“When I heard of the tragic incidents of the loss of your father and the Majority Leader, I was shocked. It’s most unfortunate; even if your father lived to a good old age, nobody would want to lose his father because as a father, the kind of advice and the things he will tell you, nobody will say it to you,” he said.

On his part, Edo Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, who led a delegation from Edo which included his Deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu, on a condolence visit to Gov. Okowa at the Government House, Asaba on Tuesday, said the late Pa Arthur Okowa was a man of destiny and lived a fulfilled life.

He commiserated with the Okowa family, the government and people of Delta over the death of the Patriach of Okowa family and that of the Majority Leader of Delta State House of Assembly, Mr Tim Owhefere.

He stated that Pa Okowa lived a worthy life of impact which culminated in his son becoming a governor.

Former governor of the state, Emmanuel Uduaghan said that Pa Okowa had been a father to him and many people for many years and told the Okowas to see the passing of their father as one tough time that must pass by.

Governor Okowa also received on condolence visit the Service Commanders of Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and Nigeria Airforce from their formations in Warri, Air Commodore Augustine Vunombagai, Commander 371 Nigerian Air Force Detachment, Warri; Commodore Semiu Adepegba, NNS DELTA and Colonel Sani Ahmed, Commander, Sector One, Operation Delta Safe.

The Chief Judge of the state, Justice Marshall Umukoro, also led a delegation of judges in the state to condole with the governor and his family.

Okowa also received a delegation of Ijaw leaders led by his Deputy, Mr Kingsley Otuaro, who told him that the delegation was a representative of the larger Ijaw nation and was there to condole with him and the family on the demise of his father and the late member of the State House Assembly, who was its Majority Leader, Mr Tim Owhefere.

The Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, who was in company with his Edo State counterpart, Mr Marcus Onobun and principal officers of both Houses of Assembly of both states, also visited the governor on condolence.

The Management and Staff of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) led by the Chairman, Chief Michael Diden, also visited the governor.

Managing Director of the commission, Chief Askia Ogieh, who spoke on behalf of the delegation, said that Pa Okowa’s death was not a loss to the family alone but to humanity in general because of the positive impacts he made in his 88 years sojourn on earth.

Okowa also played host to the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mr Amaju Pinnick and the Delta State Management Committee of Public Motor Parks.

… Ibori, traditional rulers at country home

Former governors of the state – Chief James Ibori and Emmanuel Uduaghan have also paid visits to the governor.

The country home of late Pa Arthur Okorie Okowa in Owa-Alero, Ika North East Local Government Area of the state, has continued to play host to sympathisers who were in the community to commiserate with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and his siblings over the demise of their father

Among the sympathisers were the former governor of the state, Chief James Onanefe Ibori; former Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Dele Ezeoba (Rtd.); members of Delta State Traditional Rulers Council; members of Delta State Executive Council; the Bishop of Ika Diocese, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, His Lordship, Ifeanyichukwu Ekpenisi; members of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Delta State Chapter and representatives of the physically challenged persons in the state.

Also present to commiserate with the governor and members of his family were people from different ethnic nationalities in the state, members of different religious groups, technocrats and people from different walks of life among others.

Chief Ibori said Late Pa Okowa was one of his confidants when he was governor of the state for eight years, adding that the late octogenarian was a good man, a leader par excellence and a God-fearing man who raised his children in the fear of the Lord.

The former governor said that he was quite confident that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa would continue to promote and sustain his father’s good legacies.

The Chairman, Delta State Traditional Rulers Council, Obi Emmanuel Efeizomor II, said Late Pa Okowa was a rare gem who, according to him, had demonstrated strong love for Delta, Nigeria and Africa.