By Eseoghene Emuke
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State on Thursday visited the family of late Sir Tony Obuh who contested the governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2014 to commiserate with the family over the passage of the politician.
Obuh, who was later appointed by Governor Okowa in 2018 as chairman of the State Pension Bureau, died on Thursday after a protracted illness at a Teaching Hospital in Enugu.
The governor, who had earlier expressed shock over Obuh’s passage in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, was accompanied on the condolence visit by his wife, Edith and top government functionaries.
Obuh, a retired Permanent Secretary and politician, hails from Oki community, Agbor Kingdom, Ika South Local Government Area of the state.
He died in the early hours of Thursday at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, after a protracted illness.
He was aged 62.
Okowa arrived Obuh’s home in Asaba at 3.10 p.m.
He condoled with the deceased’s wife, Ogor Obuh, and son, Tony Obuh Jnr, family members, other relatives and well wishers who had thronged the residence to mourn the late technocrat, a retired permanent secretary.
Prayers were said by the governor and members of his entourage for the family for God to grant the deceased’s soul eternal rest.
The governor described him as “thoroughbred technocrat” whose contributions to the civil service would be indelible, adding that he felt a “personal loss’’ with the demise of the great son of Ikaland.
However, the governor in an earlier statement while consoling the family, said, “On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I mourn the passing of a gentleman and thoroughbred professional, Sir Anthony Chuks Obuh, who reportedly died early Thursday at the UNTH, Enugu.
“The news of his death came to me as a shock and I send my heartfelt condolences to the family, the people of Ika South and the entire bureaucracy in Delta on the passing of the renowned politician and top-notch civil servant.
“He was a gentleman-politician, and distinguished himself in the service of his state as a retired Permanent Secretary, Commissioner and current Chairman of the Pension Board.
“Until his death, he was an active member of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta and a leader in Ika South Local Government Area. He will be sorely missed by those whose lives he touched in many ways.”
