Chief James Onanefe Ibori has described Senator Patrick Enebeli Osakwe, who died on Tuesday in a London hospital, as an exemplary son of Delta state. He said that Osakwe’s life was the stuff of legend, the kind of story you see only in story books.
Ibori, a former Governor of Delta state, said that Osakwe’s life is a testimony that dreams do come true in Nigeria. He said in a statement signed by his Media Assistant, Tony Eluemunor, that Osakwe refused to allow his humble beginnings to hold him down but despite his material deprivations built up a large business empire from scratch. He started with the Evidence Transport Company, Flash Pool betting business, sponsored the Benin-based Flash Flamingoes Football Club and branched off into Real Estate and hotels.
With his name already a house-hold word in the old Bendel state from the mid-1970s, the second part of Osakwe’s life kicked off; he began to make up for what he lacked in education and earned multiple degrees from the University of Benin, Benin-City.
It was in Osakwe’s pursuit of the third part of his much-storied life, politics, that our paths crossed. While I was Governor of Delta state from 1999 to 2007, Osakwe the politician represented Delta North in the Senate. He represented his constituency three consecutive times.
Ibori said, “I found in Osakwe a dependable ally in many battles. He was ever gentlemanly, quick witted, highly focused and had an enduring love for the good people of Delta state”.
Ibori condoled the people of Ugili-Amai village, the Ndokwa nation, Anioma people and the entire Delta state for this great loss even as he prayed that God Almighty will grant Sen. Osakwe’s soul eternal
rest.
(In a related development), Ibori has described the death of Prince Emeka Obasi who died Tuesday 15th March as a great loss to the nation. He said that Emeka Obasi was not only a journalist but a man of many parts; an excellent and fearless reporter and uncommon essayist who spiced his columns with little known facts, histrionics and captivating drama. He had a knack for facts, names, dates and figures, which made his writings very educating.
Ibori said that Nigerian journalists should have much to emulate in Obasi’s life as he combined his journalism with the business aspect of being a publisher, founding at least two enduring newspaper houses as well as other businesses on the side lines.
Ibori said that Emeka Obasi had candour, confidence, fearlessness and panache. He said that Nigerian journalism will greatly miss him as the vacuum his death has caused will be difficult to fill. As Ibor consoled his family, he prayed that God would grant his soul eternal rest.
▪︎ By Tony Eluemunor (Media Assistant to Chief Ibori).