Inokoba, former PDP Chairman in Bayelsa dies at 67

Col. Sam Inokoba (rtd), the former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa is dead.

A statement signed by Mr Clee Inokoba, the elder brother of the deceased and issued to newsmen in Yenogoa, said the late Inokoba slumped and died in Lagos on Wednesday.

It said the late Inokoba 67, recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), with about 1,000 supporters.

It said that the deceased had procured his Expression of Intent and Nomination Forms at the APC secretariat in Abuja to contest the governorship election primaries of the party.

Waripamowei, the first son the deceased, who also confirmed the death of his father, said the late Inokoba slumped and died at about 2 a.m. in Lagos.

“He was confirmed dead before he was taken to the hospital.

“Some of our people are on their way to Lagos to bring back his remains,’’ Waripamowei said.

The Bayelsa government expressed shock over the death of Inokoba.

A statement signed by Mr Daniel Markson-Iworiso, Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Seriake Dickson, said Inokoba’s death was a sad and painful loss to the state.

“He will be greatly missed by his family and close associates, especially the political class.

“We pray that God will grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss as well as grant his soul eternal rest.

“We assure the family of the government’s preparedness to support and participate in the rites of passage for the late Inokoba,” the statement said.

In his reaction, Chief Timipre Sylva, the former governor of Bayelsa, described the late Inokoba ‘’as a great community leader.’’

He described the deceased as ‘’an intelligent politician’’ whose contributions to society would be missed by the people of Bayelsa and Nigerians.

A statement issued by Mr Doifie Buokoribo, Sylva’s Media Adviser, said that Inokoba’s death had left a vacuum that would be impossible to fill.

“The news of the death of Inokoba is a terrible shock to me, my family and the APC in Bayelsa and Nigeria in general,’’ Sylva, the state APC leader said.

Mr Indutimi Komonibo a former member of the state Assembly, who visited the resident of the deceased in Yenagoa, described the death ‘’a great loss.’’

In his condolence message, Dickson Ageda, former Special Adviser (Media) to Dr Goodluck Jonathan when he was governor of the state, described the death as “shocking.”