Okowa, Uduaghan, Ibori Mourn, As Remains Of William Ibori Is Interred

By Onos Clinton

Delta State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, his predecessor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan and former Governor James Ibori, yesterday mourned, as the remains of Chief Williams Ibori was laid to rest, saying he was a peacemaker and stabilizer.

Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Peter Obi, Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, former Governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbenedion, Deputy Governor of Delta State, Deacon Kingsley Otuaro, former Deputy Governor, Chief Benjamin Elue and other personalities from different parts of the world attended the day of tribute held at the Oghara Township Stadium before the internment took place at the residence of the deceased.

According to Governor Okowa, “Together, we mourn this afternoon; we mourn because he died suddenly. Oghara is our political base, and he was a father to all of us who visit our leader, Chief James Ibori in Oghara. He played a major role in my becoming the Governor of Delta State.”

“I will forever remain grateful to Chief William Ibori. He was a great man and he was a member of the Delta State Advisory Council. We know that he has played his role as a father and a community leader and we pray that God will console the family,” Governor Okowa said.

On his part, Dr Uduaghan said: “The deceased was a pillar in this state and and a grea adviser and severally we called on him to settle disputes in any part of Delta State.”

Former Governor Ibori in an emotion-ladened voice, said: “Uncle William as I used to call him was a father to all of us. It is indeed very sad that we stand here today preparing to lay him to rest, his death was a big shock.

“God knows best but we would have wished that he gave us some notice.
God called him and he answered the call like every one of us will do and on this occasion, mine is to wish him well and to thank him for what he was to everyone of us,” the former Governor stated.
In a related development, Governor Okowa, has urged Nigerians to live worthy lives and contribute to the development of their communities.

The governor made the call today at the funeral service of Senator David Dafinone, held at Bethel Baptist Church, Sapele, Delta State.

His words: “Live a life that is worthy; a life that will touch other people’s lives positively, bearing in mind that after you have gone, you will only be remembered for what you did when you were alive.”

“In whatever we do, we should consider the feeling of others. We must make impact in our communities because people can only love you when you have made impact on the life of people back home,” the governor said,
“I must condole with the family of late Senator Dafinone. It is my hope that the Lord will receive his soul. We are very proud of him. He touched a lot of lives and played a lot of roles to grow the accounting profession and the roles he played in the building of the Palace of the Orodje of Okpe cannot be forgotten,”

Bishop Diamond Emuobo in a sermon at the ceremony, urged Christians to make the society better through their actions.