SUN, JUN 14 2020-theG&BJournal- Retired Maj.-Gen. John Obada, Chief Tom Amioku former Commissioner in Delta State and chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Victoria, the wife of Archbishop God-dowell Avwomakpa who died on Friday are all remembered today by the Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. The deceased are all from Delta and have served the state in various capacities.
Retired Maj.-Gen. John Obada died on Saturday night after a brief illness. He was aged 81. Amioku reportedly died on Saturday after a protracted illness, a few days to June 17 when he would have been 75 years old while Victoria God-dowell Avwomakpa, who hailed from Ekrerhavwen in Ughelli North Local Government Area, battled ill-health for many years before her demise. She died aged 67.
Okowa said that the news of Obada’s death was devastating, especially as the nation was in dire need of the wise counseling of retired top military personnel, including Obada, to solve the avalanche of security challenges currently faced by the country.
“As Deltans, we are extremely proud of the outstanding contributions of Gen. Obada to the Nigerian Army where he served as Aide-De-Camp to Nigeria’s first President, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe from 1964 to 1966,’’ Okowa said.
Gen Obada was Commander, Training Command, Nigerian Air Force, Kaduna, 1971 to 1975, General Officer Commanding, 82 Division, Enugu, known then as 4th Infantry Division, Nigerian Army. He was the President of the Special Military Tribunal that tried and condemned Colonel Buka Dimka after the 1976 coup de-tat in which the military Head of State, General Murtala Muhammed, was killed.
Obada retired from the Nigerian Army in 1977 and represented Delta State in the Federal Revenue Mobilisation, Allocations and Fiscal Commission.
At home, he was 2nd Vice-President of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), the apex socio-cultural umbrella body of the Urhobo nation, and later Chairman, Board of Trustees of the union.
“On behalf of my family, the government and the people of Delta, I send my deepest condolences to the Obada family, the Urhobo nation and the people of Agbarho where he hails from,” the governor said.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, on Sunday in Asaba, Okowa said that the demise of Amioku was a great loss to the state and the PDP family, especially at this critical period.
He commiserated with the people of Egborode community, Okpe Local Government Area and Urhobo nation over the sad incident.
According to the governor, the deceased was a gentleman-politician and stakeholder, who served Deltans dedicatedly and conscientiously in the several capacities he served the state.
He said: “On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I mourn the passing of an elder statesman and grassroots politician, who passed on Saturday.
“The news of his death came to me as another shock, coming a few days after the passing of a serving DESOPADEC board member and former member of the state’s cabinet.
“Chief Amioku was a gentleman-politician, who distinguished himself in the service of Delta, first, as Commissioner for Special Duties from 1999 to 2001, Commissioner for Power and Energy from 2001 to 2003 and Commissioner for Works from 2003 to 2007.’’
Amioku hailed from Egborode in Okpe Local Government Area. He was Vice-Chairman of PDP in Delta Central, and in Gov. Okowa’s administration, was pioneer Chairman, Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency.
Okowa said, Mrs Avwomakpa’s contribution to society was laudable and urged her husband, children and other family members to be consoled by the legacies she left behind.
“I learnt of the passing of Pastor (Mrs) Victoria Avwomakpa, the wife of our father and former South-South Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop God-dowell Avwomakpa.
“It is indeed heart-breaking to lose a dear one, especially a wife of 48 years.
“Although death is the way of all mortals and debt we must all pay, I am nonetheless consoled by the fact that Mrs Avwomakpa, a servant of God, lived a worthy and exemplary life.
“She was known to have impacted so many lives, especially in the church while she lived.
“On behalf of my family, the government and people of Delta, I condole with you, our father in the Lord, on the passing of your beloved wife, Victoria.
Archbishop Avwomakpa is the General Overseer of Christ Missionaries Crusaders Church, Warri.
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