By Deborah Hassan
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has described the death of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) Chairman, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga, (Rtd.) as a painful and untimely one that has dealt a severe blow to the Niger Delta struggle.
Governor Wike said this when he paid a condolence visit to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Emmanuel Udom at the Government House, Uyo on Thursday over the death of Nkanga and the State chairman of PDP, Udo Ekpenyong over the death of Nkanga and the State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Udo Ekpenyong.
According to his Special Assistant (Media), Kelvin Ebiri, the Rivers State Governor said the death of the PANDEF Chairman created a deep void in the agitation for restructuring of Nigeria in line with the principle of true federalism.
He quoted him as saying: ‘The PANDEF chairman stood for the struggle of the Niger Delta, restructuring of this country. As Rivers people, we are all from Niger Delta. We face the same problems. So if anything happens to Akwa Ibom State, it also affects Rivers State. We have lost a voice. Whether anybody likes it or not. We have lost a voice.”
Governor Wike urged Governor Udom and the people of Akwa Ibom State to take solace in God over the death of these two great sons of the State.
He added that in appreciation of the immense contribution of the late PANDEF chairman to the Niger Delta struggle, Rivers State government will collaborate with Akwa Ibom State Government to support his family and accord him a befitting funeral.
“We will support you to sustain the family. We will support you for the burial of the late PANDEF chairman. Rivers State Government will want to be fully involved in whatever it takes to give him a befitting burial.”
In his response, Governor Emmanuel Udom thanked Governor Wike and Rivers State delegation for standing by the people of Akwa Ibom in their moment of grief.
Udom said the death of Nkanga, who was the Director General of his Divine Mandate Campaign organisation 2015 and 2019, was emotionally devastating to him and the people of the state.
“He was my DG for both first term and second term. For somebody who had been your Director general for first and second term, you know the man must have proven that high level of loyalty and integrity.
“What he doesn’t say in front of you, he will never say it behind you. He was that man at that level of integrity, character.”
He urged the governors of the South South states to collaborate with his government to give Nkanga a befitting funeral next month.
On the demise of Ekpenyong, Udom said, “In fact, my party chairman when they are introducing him, they use to call him Mr Loyalty. He was that loyal to our party. He had served the party at the national level, he started serving the party at the state level. If you want any definition for loyalty, just look for Udo Ekpenyong.”