Wike mourns Orbih, says “I lost a true friend, political associate”

By Philip Yatai

Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has described the death of Chief Daniel Orbih, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Vice-Chairman (South South) as the ‘fall of one of the biggest trees in the political forest of Edo’.

Wike said this in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Mr Lere Olayinka, in Abuja on Tuesday in reaction to the death of Orbih.

“I lost a true friend and political associate,” Wike said while describing the death of the PDP chieftain as painful.

Wike, who described Orbih was “a friend indeed”, described his demise as the ‘fall of one of the biggest trees in the political forest of Edo’.

“I have lost a friend and a committed political ally. Daniel Orbih was everything anyone could desire in friendship and political associates. But we can’t question God. He gives and He takes.

“On behalf of myself, my family and political associates, I commiserate with the family of Chief M.C.K. Orbih, on the demise of Chief Daniel Orbih, a good friend, a great politician and a man of faith in the Almighty God.

“He will be missed by all. May his soul rest in peace,” Wike remarked.

The family of Chief confirmed his death on Monday in a statement issued on Tuesday in Benin by Mr Francis Orbih, on behalf of the family.

It described the deceased as a beloved brother, husband, father and uncle, saying his death was received with “profound sadness and a heavy heart”.

The family said that the late politician is survived by his wife, Mrs Florence Orbih, and his children, Ms Winifred Orbih and Dr Mildred Orbih as well as brothers, sisters and other members of the extended family.

“At this difficult time, we ask family members, friends and well-wishers to remember the entire family in their prayers as we mourn this painful loss,” the statement said.

The family said further details concerning the burial and other arrangements would be announced in due course.

It urged family members, friends and well-wishers to continue to pray for the family during the mourning period.

Orbih was a former PDP Chairman in Edo before later serving as the party’s National Vice Chairman, South-South.