Senator slumps, dies in Government House

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Senator Tari Sekibo, the President of Ijaw National Congress, INC, the umbrella body of the Ijaw ethnic nationality worldwide has died.

He died on Monday after he collapsed while waiting to have a meeting in Government House, Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa state, in southern Nigeria.

Sekibo, who was said to have slumped and died in Government House was said to have a scheduled meeting with Serieke Dickson, the Bayelsa State Governor over the crisis that arose from the election into the Ijaw Youth Council.

It was learnt that the late INC President was first rushed to the Government House, Clinic and later to Federal Medical Centre where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Sekibo was elected to the position of Ijaw National Congress leader in a hotly contested election on 16 March, 2013.

The Publicity Secretary of the INC, Mr. Victor Burubo, confirmed the death of the President, Senator Tari Sekibo, “We have just heard the news that we have lost our President. We don’t have enough details but he died in Yenagoa. We are arranging to move to Yenagoa and get enough details on the sad incident.”

The crisis in the Ijaw Youth Council saw the emergence of several contestants laying claim to have won the Presidency of IYC.

As part of restoring peace in the IYC,Sekibo led NEC had ordered that the results of the election that had polarised the youth wing of the Ijaw nation be cancelled.

This met stiff resistance of Udenz Eradiri,who claiming to have won the post, secured a court order directing Sekibo executive to stay action on the cancellation.

P.M.NEWS sources said Sekibo’s death could only be announced by the Okrika Council of Chiefs because as the Chairman of the Okrika Council of Traditional rulers, Okrika tradition forbids individuals from announcing his death.

President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC),Engr. Udenz Eradiri,who was on hand to receive the INC President on arrival in Yenagoa, took part in taking his body to the Federal Medical Centre.

“Yes, the visit of the President to Yenagoa was because of the NEC meeting of the INC slated for Monday. And yes, the visit of the NEC to the Governor was on the card. But the major reason for us gathering in Yenagoa is for our NEC meeting,” said Burubo.