Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Barr. Nyesom Wike has described the death of the senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District, Barinada Mpigi, as a loss, not only to the Ogoni people of Rivers State, but to the entire country, describing the late senator as “a dependable ally who stood by his friends, even during trying times.”

Tribune Online reports that Senator Mpigi died at 64 last week, on Thursday, after a brief illness.

In a statement in London on Thursday by the minister’s senior special assistant on public communications and social media, Lere Olayinka, the FCT minister, who led the delegation of Rivers State leaders on Thursday to visit the wife of Senator Mpigi, Mrs. Patricia Obiageri Mpigi, and her children, promised to stand by the family and ensure a befitting burial for the deceased.

The minister was accompanied by his two sons, Jordan and Joaquin; Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule; Senators Magnus Abe, Allwell Onyesoh and Olaka Nwogu, as well as Rivers State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Aaron Chukwuemeka, as well as Felix Nweke, Kenneth Chikere and Hon. Dum Deekor.

Condoling with Senator Mpigi’s wife and children, Wike said; “We are here as a delegation sent by the leader of Rivers State.

“Actually, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, Chief OCJ Okocha and Sergeant Awuse would have come, but considering their age, they couldn’t. We were asked to come and see you before you return home.

“I don’t know where to start from, but one thing that is key is that all of us know that certainly, a day would come that we will go and meet our maker. But when it will be, nobody knows.

“I do know that your husband has tried. He really was very strong to overcome whatever the problem was. And you too, as a very strong woman, gave him the necessary support.

“You know how close all of us were to your husband, particularly myself. I was council chairman with your husband, and we have been together. Your husband was a strong pillar in the politics of Rivers State.

“There is nobody among us that does not know the impact of Barinada Mpigi. When he says he is your friend, he is your friend.

“If Bari says he is not going to work with you, you don’t need to go and ask anyone whether he will change his mind. He stands with his friends through thick and thin. It is very unfortunate that this is the period we really need your husband to be around. But we can’t question God.

“I had thought that he would overcome it, but God knows better. There is nothing we can say today that can bring Bari back.

“In fact, I was telling one of our friends that the day we will know that Bari is no longer with us is when he will be lowered.

“Up till now, some of us are still having that belief that anything can happen.

“God gives, God takes. I believe that He will give all of you the strength, just as we pray that God will also give us the strength to bear this irreparable loss, which is not only to the Ogoni people, Rivers State, but to Nigeria as a whole.”

Promising to stand by the family, the minister, in an emotion-laden tone, said, “We will play our own part.

“We will not forget Bari. Like I have said, it is our own loss, we will be there with you. We will play our roles to ensure that he is accorded a befitting burial.

“On behalf of the leaders of Rivers State, we say take heart and remain strong.”

Responding, the wife of the deceased, Patricia Mpigi, thanked the minister for always standing by the family.

She said, “I thank you for your presence and support. All I can say is thank you. Thank you for all you have done.” (Nigerian Tribune, excluding headline)