Sam Obi: We Were Like Bolt And Nut, Says DESOPADEC Boss, Askia Ogieh

Bashorun Askia Ogieh, Managing Director of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), has described the former Acting Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Prince Sam Obi, as a soul mate with whom he shared a relationship akin to bolts and nuts.

“Under Chief James Ibori’s first tenure, when he was Chairman of Pointer Newspaper and I was Chairman of the Governing Council of Institute of Continuing Education and also as local government chairmen, with me as ALGON State Chairman, Sam and I were “known and addressed as Bolt and Nut.” The name we called ourselves, basically because of our chemistry which was topnotch, inseparable and complimentary to our individual goals. It was an enviable rapport that lasted till his last breath”, Ogieh stated in a condolence message over the demise of the one-time Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly.

He noted that as a leader and politician, the one-time Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, the late Prince Obi stood up to be counted when Delta State faced political challenges.

“At a time Delta State had to contend with a near crisis situation when the then Governor of the state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, was removed by the Court of Appeal, it was Rt. Hon. Prince Sam Obi as Speaker of the House of Assembly that held forth, stabilised the polity and sustained the peace in the state.

“As Acting Governor from November 15, 2010, Prince Obi held our party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), together, superintended the holding of a new gubernatorial election within three months and ensured that the party secured another resounding victory.

“That episode epitomizes the life and times of Prince Sam Obi. He was a loyal party man, he always put the people of Delta State first, and he was a statesman and a bastion of peace”, Ogieh stated.

The DESOPADEC boss noted that the PDP in Delta State owes its stability to him for “when it needed a hero, Prince Obi stood up to be counted.

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“His passing on Saturday, April 3, 2021, is not only shocking but a huge loss to our dear state. He was from a generation of political leaders that saw public office as a privilege and a call to service.

“On behalf of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), I commiserate with the royal family of Ute–Okpu, the Owa Kingdom, and the people of Delta State on the death of our former Acting Governor.”

He prayed God to grant the late former Speaker eternal rest, saying that he and his wife have Prince Obi’s “wife and children in our prayers at this difficult time”.