The Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Chiedu Ebie, has paid a condolence visit to the palace of the late Asagba of Asaba, Obi Chike Edozien, during which he vowed to honour the principles and virtues espoused by the late monarch, in advancing development of the Anioma nation.
The NDDC chairman also paid similar visits to the families of Dr Cairo Ojougboh, who passed on recently as well as the home of Obi Martha Dunkwu, Omu Anioma and icon of Anioma culture at Okpanam.
In Ebie’s entourage for the condolence visits on Thursday were some members of the Delta State House of Assembly; the director in charge of the Delta State NDDC office, Mr Onoriode Omo-Idoyo; the pioneer chairman of the Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency, Clement Ofuani, and other dignitaries.
Ebie, a former Secretary to Delta State Government, described the late Asaba monarch as an outstanding personality who distinguished himself in the medical profession and academia before ascending the throne in 1991, coinciding with the creation of Delta State.
He said, “At that time, Asaba being the capital of the new state was transforming from a town to a city. So, he (Obi Edozien) was saddled with the responsibility of ensuring the development of the town into a city and the peaceful coexistence of indigenes and non-indigenes.
“We are grateful to God for having him crowned as the Asagba of Asaba at that time and greatly helping in the development of Asaba and also ensuring peace in the state capital.
“One of the things that the commission keeps preaching at this critical time is the need for all of us to co-exist and work harmoniously so that the nine states that make up the NDDC can benefit in terms of infrastructural development and also human capital development.
“As an indigene of Delta and an Anioma son, we will work hard, give our best shot to ensure that the Anioma people and the people of Delta State benefit from our tenure as members of the board of the commission,’’ Ebie said.
Responding on behalf of the Edozien family, one of the daughters of the late monarch, Miss Ngozi Edozien, thanked the NDDC chairman for his visit to condole with them, adding that his kind words were a great comfort in their moment of grief.
“On behalf of my family, the Asaba Kingdom and the Anioma nation, we thank you for all that you are doing and all that you will do in making our father, the late Asagba, proud’’ she said.
