The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has led a delegation of prominent Rivers State leaders to London to pay a condolence visit to the family of the late senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District, Barinada Mpigi, describing his death as a significant loss to Rivers State and Nigeria.
Mpigi died last Thursday at the age of 64, following a brief illness.
In a statement issued in London on Thursday by the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, Wike described the late lawmaker as “a dependable ally who stood by his friends, even during trying times.”
Wike, who was accompanied by his two sons, Jordan and Joaquin, led the delegation to visit the widow, Patricia Mpigi, and her children ahead of their return to Nigeria.
Members of the delegation included Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule; Senators Magnus Abe, Allwell Onyesoh, and Olaka Nwogu; Rivers State PDP Chairman Aaron Chukwuemeka; Felix Nweke; Kenneth Chikere; and Hon. Dum Deekor.
Speaking during the visit, Wike said the delegation was sent by the leaders of Rivers State to personally convey their condolences.
“We are here as a delegation sent by the leaders of Rivers State. Actually, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, Chief OCJ Okocha, and Sergeant Awuse would have come, but considering their age, they couldn’t. We were asked to come and see you before you return home,” he said.
Reflecting on the inevitability of death, the minister added,
“I don’t know where to start from, but one key thing is that all of us know that certainly, a day will come when we will go and meet our Maker. But when it will be, nobody knows.”
He commended the late senator for his resilience during his illness and praised his wife for her support.
“I do know that your husband tried. He really was very strong to overcome whatever the problem was. And you, as a very strong woman, gave him the necessary support,” Wike said.
