Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has eulogised the flawless dedication and selfless service to Rivers State of late elder statesman, Chief Godwin Ngogo Alabraba, saying that the people and government of the state would forever remain grateful to him, even in death, for the sacrifices he made for the unity and peace of the state. Wike made the remarks when he and leaders of the state attended the funeral service of late elder statesman, Chief Godwin Ngogo Alabraba in Abonnema, last Saturday.
The funeral service of late elder statesman, Chief Godwin Ngogo Alabraba took place at St. Paul’s Nyemoni Lutheran Church in Abonnema. Wike commended the dedication and commitment to work of late Alabraba, who was also a former commissioner in the Rives State Civil Service Commission. He was the elder brother of the Chairman, Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority (GPHCDA), Chief Ferdinand Alabraba. The governor, in his condolence message to the bereaved family said, “It was with a very heavy heart that my wife and I received the sad news of the death of your elder brother and patriarch of the Alabraba family, Chief Godwin Ngogo Alabraba, Oruwari VI and paramount head of Oruwari Briggs War Canoe House of Abonnema.
“The funeral service was held at St Paul’s Nyemoni Lutheran Cathedral, Abonnema, Akuku-Toru LGA, Rivers State. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and the Abonnema community at this period of grief.” The governor recalled that late Alabraba served Rivers State with dedication, and contributed to its development as a civil servant, member of the Board of Directors of the defunct PABOD Finance and Investment Company, and commissioner in the Rivers State Civil Service Commission. Wike described the deceased as a well-respected family and community leader and elder statesman, whose tenure as the chairman of Abonnema Council of Chiefs was marked by peace and progress. “His death is a loss not only to his family and Abonnema community, but also to the entire Rivers State. But we thank God for a life’s race well run, a long and eventful life well lived and worthy legacies left behind for us to remember him”, Wike said. The governor urged the Alabraba family to accept the heartfelt condolences of the government and people of Rivers State. In his sermon, Most Reverend Nimi Benson Fyneface, who spoke on the theme: “The Hope of a Christian”, urged Christians to always believe in the redeemer, Jesus Christ as exemplified by the life of Job.
He said Jesus Christ was available for all Christians who have sinned and come short of the glory of God. He commended the contributions of the late Alabraba to the unity, peace, growth and development of the Lutheran Church in the country and Abonnema in particular. Fyneface said the late elder statesman fought a good fight as a peaceful man who always stood by the truth, feared God, kept the faith and has gone to be with the Redeemer. He also used the forum to commend Governor Nyesom Wike for changing the landscape of the state with developmental projects and for including the Trans-Kalabari Road project in the 2021 budget. In his remarks, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, lauded the governor and all who attended the funeral of his elder brother for their show of love and support. Present at the service were: the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani; Senator Sam Anyanwu; Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Amb Desmond Akwor; Secretary to the State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo; members of the State Executive Council, Kalahari chiefs and several other dignitaries.
