By Eseoghene Emuke
A former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, has described the death of the first elected deputy governor of the state, Evangelist Simeon Ozioma Ebonka, as a great loss to the Ebonka’s family and the state and Nigeria in general.
Ebonka died on Wednesday after a brief illness at the age of 77.
The deceased, who hails from Owa-Alizomor in Ika North East Local Government Area, was the deputy governor to former Governor Felix Ibori, Delta first civilian governor.
He was elected alongside Ibru who were elected on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 1992.
Ibori, in a statement, described the late Ebonka who alongside late Senator Ibori laid the solid foundation for the development of the state.
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According to him, “Evangelist Ebonka and Olorogun Ibru laid the foundation for the swift development that Delta State has witnessed, though they came into office in a new state with a new capital, and one of the real problems they had to grapple with was the sharing of assets belonging to Delta and Edo States.”
Ibori gave thanks to God that Ebonka’s labours were not in vein.
The former Deputy Governor lost his wife, Mrs Ngozi Ebonka, in 2014.
Chief Ibori “condoled the Governor of Delta state, His Excellency Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa and the good people of Delta state on the death of this statesman.”
He also prayed that God will give Evangelist Ebonka’s children the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.
