Chief James Onanefe Ibori has extolled late Justice James Omo-Agege, who died Thursday at age 83, as “one of the leading lights of Delta State, especially, in those first trying years after it was carved out from Bendel state.” Ibori, a former Governor of Delta State, said that Omo-Agege was visibly involved in the task of seeing that the then emerging Delta state unified and developed very fast.

Speaking through Tony Eluemunor, his Media Assistant, Chief Ibori said: “A great leading light dimmed today (Thursday). One of the great foundations on which the state rested, has given way. He played the role of a father to those coming after him. He had the knack of identifying promising young men and women and he would go out of his way to encourage them to reach higher heights. I can testify to this because, I am one of those whom so encouraged. Even during the truncated transition under the Gen. SaniAbacha administration, he fully supported my involvement in politics, always saying to me; “keep your eyes on the prize”. And when another transition succeeded that, he was one of those who backed me. So, personally, I owe him a great debt.”

Justice Omo-Agege was the Chief Judge of Bendel State, and when Bendel was split into Edo and Delta states, he returned to Delta and helped see the state through its first teething problems. He was a law giant who served as Delta State Chief Judge for five years. He had a large social conscience and cared very much about the upliftment of the common man and the progress of Delta state.

While wishing the late Chief Judge eternal rest, Chief Ibori commiserated with the children, who he said are very close to him, especially Senator Obarise Ovie Omo-Agege, who served in Ibori’s administration in Delta State.

•Photo shows late Justice James Omo-Agege