NOSIKE IKPO, SECOND REPUBLIC SENATOR IS DEAD

- What Indigen

es Said of the Late Anioma Leader and Nigerian Elder Statesman

- He was never afraid to speak the truth - Nwaoboshi

- He was one of the greatest Ibusa of all of times - Izagbo

- He suggested the conferment of Onwanetili Oha - Fred Ajudua

Story by Emeka Esogbue

"IN EVERY PARTING, THERE'S AN IMAGE OF DEATH".

-George Eliot

The Anioma community was thrown into mourning following the passage of Second Republic Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Obi Senator Nosike Ikpo. The Nigerian Elder Statesman died in the early hours of today as confirmed to PEN MASTER by sources close to the family.

The Nigerian Politician and Administrator was born to Ibusa parents in present Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State on March 21, 1933. He attended St Thomas's College, Ibusa and was one of the earliest students of the prestigious institutions. In 1964, he rose to become Administrative Assistant in the British Council, Benin City. In 1967, he worked as Midwest Representatives. From 1976-1979), Senator Ikpo was a Councilor of Oshimili Local Government, Asaba. In 1979, he was elected as the Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in which he represented Bendel East which is today Delta North Senatorial District, later re-elected in 1983 until the military coup terminated the nation's 2nd Republic.

During the agitation for the creation of more states in the country, he emerged the President of the Anioma State Movement, joining forces in uniting the sub-groups of what is today Anioma towards achieving a state of their own in Nigeria. The Elder Statesman followed through the procedures, gaining passage of through the National Assembly before the military coup of 1983.

Meanwhile prominent indigenes of his community have continued to shower eulogies on the man considered the "living father of Anioma".

In his release to the public earlier today, titled "Glorious End of an Era", the President-General of Ibusa Community Development Union Worldwide (ICDU), Dr. Austin Izagbo described the late politician as "one of Ibusa's greatest of all times" while wishing his immediate and political families the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.

Narrating his worthwhile relations with him, Businessman and Lawyer, Barr Fred Ajudua recounted the battle the man who in 1990, came up with the suggestion of the conferment of the title, "Onwanetili Oha of Ibusa" on him fought tooth and nail with opponents of the idea in the court over the idea but succeeded.

The Onwanetili Oha of Ibusa since 1990, in his release submitted to members of Umu Umujei Descendants, the socio-political group of Ibusa at home and in Diaspora described the late sage as a "traditional maestro whose loss is irreplaceable in Igbuzo affairs".

Earlier, the Senator representing Delta North, Barr Peter Nwaoboshi had mourned the late Ikpo. In a communique personally signed to him and made available to newsmen, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta emphasized the late Ikpo as his political father, idol and mentor.

Part of the release read:

"The late Obi Senator Nosike Ikpo, who represented Bendel East Senatorial District (now Delta North), as a man of unparalleled dignity, was never afraid of speaking the truth irrespective of whose Ox is gored".

"The death of the former Federal lawmaker is huge blow to the entire people of Anioma land, Deltans as well as Nigerians, as his fatherly role will be sorely missed", the release personally signed by the Lawmaker further read.

Belgian Politician, Dr Collins Nweke, on his part lamentably remarked that Obi Senator Nosike Ikpo, a foremost Igbuzo politician who shaped the political thoughts of most of the Ibusa sons and daughters of today. He further viewed him as the leader that exemplified political integrity and was a man of decency who never forgot his humble beginnings.

The deceased Elder Statesman who Sir Onyeluka Igbonoba described as the "Great Trojan" breathed his last in Enugu.

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