The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, on Thursday said that late Hon Kenneth Edafe Ogba had huge dreams and hopes for his people of Isoko South 1 State Constituency.
While describing his death as truly devastating, the Speaker prayed that the House should not hold Valedictory session again on grief.
In his Valedictory speech in honour of the late lawmaker, Rt Hon Oborevwori said that he finds it extremely difficult to once again preside over a Valedictory session in honour of a fallen Colleague, who died on Sunday, June 27, 2021.
According to him, he would have turned 54 years old on Thursday, July 15, 2021, but that the Lord chose to call him home at a time He considered appropriate, saying; “We cannot question God’s actions because He is the all-knowing God.
“Let me start by saying that I wish I had never had to make Valedictory speeches on grief anymore. This is particularly against my mission and vision for the 7th Assembly under my leadership. In less than six months, the House held two Valedictory sessions. Today’s valedictory session for the late Hon. Kenneth Edafe Ogba, member representing Isoko South 1 state constituency in the House is the third in the series,” he lamented.
Painfully, the Speaker said, the tears members shed for the late Majority Leader of the House, Honourable Tim Kome Owhefere, had hardly dried up when Honourable Ogba’s death occurred.
Rt Hon Oborevwori said; “This is truly devastating for us as a House. I feel pain and anguish. This is not my wish for members of the 7th Assembly. I pray that henceforth, we shall not have a valedictory session on grief again in Jesus mighty name, amen”.
He also said; “Distinguished Honourable Colleagues, let me speak about Honourable Kenneth Edafe Ogba that I know. Honourable Ogba stands out by virtue of his physical frame and size. You cannot miss him in a crowd. He was a huge man with huge dreams and hopes for his people of Isoko South 1 State Constituency”.
He stated that Honourable Ogba as a first timer in the House was eager and willing to learn on the job of lawmaking, adding that he mobilized all his energy for Committee assignments where so much of the hard work on Bills scrutiny is carried out.
In his words; “Because this crucial exercise happens behind the scenes, it does not make headlines; only his colleagues know the time and effort he put into the Bills before the House. Our fallen colleague was a man of grace and elegance, laced with that unforgettable voice that rolled deep from his majestic frame. He had a witty sense of humour which he often deployed to drive his point home”.
The Speaker described the late lawmaker as a man with many personalities, an amiable character, a solution provider, an embodiment of humility, very passionate in what he believed in and an avowed believer in the empowerment of the downtrodden.
He added; “No wonder his popular nickname, “Presido.” He was truly a man of the people because he always put his constituents first before himself”.
“In spite of his relative achievements as an entrepreneur before his election as the Member representing Isoko South 1 State Constituency, Honourable Ogba stooped low, remained humble, simple, approachable and ready to learn. As a first time member of the House, he was always willing and quick to respect constituted authorities and professional superiors with zeal. These attributes earned him Chairman, House Committee on Power and Energy and Deputy Chairman, Committee on Special Duties. He was also a member of the following committees: Finance and Appreciations; Education; Health; Youth and Sports Development; Science and Technology; Agriculture and Natural Resources; and Urban Renewal,” Rt Hon Oborevwori said.
The Speaker disclosed that in the two years he spent as a Member of the House, he was a co-sponsor of the following Bills: Delta State College of Health Technology Bill, 2020; Delta State School of Nursing and Midwifery Bill, 2020; Delta State HIV/AIDS Anti-Discrimination and Protection Bill, 2020; Delta State Environmental Conservation Bill, 2020; and Delta State Public Finance Management Bill, 2020.
The lawmaker, according to him, worked very hard and played very hard also, noting that; “He was a kind soul and very compassionate. A loving husband and a darling father; a jolly good fellow. He has so many stories to be told about him. I cannot tell it all. He was sure to grow in his chosen field of politics of service to his people. The outpouring of emotions is evidence of the love we all shared while he was alive. We will surely miss him. Nevertheless, the life of one we love is never lost. Its influence goes on through all the lives he touched while alive”.
“Dear Colleagues, life is a journey that will surely end someday. We are not created to last forever. In all things, there is a season. A time to sow and a time to harvest; a time to cry and a time to laugh; a time to be born and a time to die. This is another sober moment for all of us as we share the memorable times we spent with our late colleague. He had the heart that cared completely. He had the smile that brought so much pleasure. He had the love that brought joy beyond measure”, he said.
The Speaker urged the wife, children and family, staff, constituents and the Isoko nation to be of good cheer, saying that; “Our brother and friend is now in a place where there is no more sorrow, no more weeping and no more crying”.
“I will end this tribute with the immortal words of Ralph Waldo Emerson ” It is not the length of life but the depth of it.” Honourable Kenneth Edafe Ogba in his brief time on earth bestrode the political field like a colossus and made an impressionable print by etching his name as a Member of the most vibrant Seventh Assembly of the Delta State House of Assembly. May his gentle soul rest in peace, Amen”, he said.
Emotions ran high during the Valedictory session held in the Hallowed chamber of the House as speaker after speaker showered encomiums on the fallen lawmaker.
