A former gubernatorial candidate on the platform of the All Peoples Party, APP, in the 1999 elections, Chief Ebenezer Isokariari, has died
Aged 70, Chief Isokariari also known as “Gbasa” by close friends and associates passed on in Lagos on Tuesday.
The news of his passage has thrown the Rivers people, particularly the Kalabaris into mourning.
Isokariari, a younger brother of late Chief Ombo Isokariari, a one-time Managing Director of NAFCON, served at various levels of government.
He would be fondly remembered for his role as the private secretary to a one -time Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Eze Frank Eke, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands, and Secretary to the Rivers State Government.
As Secretary to Government, he presided over the sharing of assets between the Rivers State and its Bayelsa counterpart after new states were created by the military.
He eventually resigned his position as Secretary to Government to contest the gubernatorial election against Dr Peter Odili of the PDP in 1999.
Although Isokariari was a career civil servant with no political antecedents, he almost emerged as the governor inspite of a campaign of calumny launched against him on the basis of his faith by Governor Sam Ewang.
Ewang had gone all out to say no one who belonged to the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star would be governor of Rivers State.
After the first ballot was taken in 1999, no clear winner emerged. It took a rerun in Gokana to give Odili an edge in the race fought gallantly by Ebenezer who could have become the first Kalabari man to be governor of Rivers State.
Thereafter, Isokariari withdrew to Cameroon where he served as a Bishop under the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star for years before returning to Nigeria to serve in Lagos.
In his reaction, Chief Ogbonna Nwuke, Publisher of the Port Harcourt Telegraph described Chief Isokariari who set up the “Conspiracy Group* which piloted his electoral bid as an illustrious son who devoted his life to service.
Nwuke said, “Rivers State has lost a great son, an illustrious son and a good man who devoted his entire time as a career civil servant to the service of the State.
“We thank God for the time he spent on earth, for the good deeds that he did and the lives that he touched, and pray that the Lord would forgive his inadequacies and accept his soul.”
Meanwhile, Mrs Hannah Aguma, wife of late Chief Emmanuel Aguma and an outstanding woman leader has died.
According to what we have learnt, prominent Rivers people have been visiting the family House at Ogbunabali to commisirate with Hon. Igo Aguma and members of the family.
Among those who have paid condolence visits is the current Minister of the FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike.
