Tribute: Friday Gbegbe’s death devastating and heart touching

By: Oyinbi Onduku

It was exactly 7:07PM, in the evening of 23rd October, 2021, l received the sad news of your devastating dead from a close friend. Immediately l put a call across to Ogbe-ljoh, confirming the unexpected sad end of your sudden departure to the other world Due-amabou.

You spoke to me on phone last on Monday 18th October, 2021, where you expressed your view and advised Delta ljaw youths, especially the youths of Ogbe-ljoh Warri Kingdom to tow the line of peace and stop the media war on the controversial DESOPADEC ljaw ethnic Commissioner’s matter.

Just five days after, you are no more with us in this sweet and wicked world. I never knew that was the last day l will hear your sonorous voice. The Ebogha 1 of Ogbe-ljoh Warri Kingdom, why you do me so ?

l grew up to know Alaowei Friday lgbegbe personally in the year 2003 at his maternal home Ayakoromo, when he came to restore peace in the community between late Gen. John Epoko (Togo) and the Town Council.

He was a tested, trusted and fearless patriotic ljaw freedom agitator, who had undergone so many operations and came back successfully unhurt to the admiration of his people. He was never power drunk with oppressive tendency’s despite the influence, popularity and power he commands.

As peace returned to warri after series of ethnic conflicts, Chief James Ibori led government of Delta State and the Multi-national oil companies operating along Odidi, Batan, Egwa Excravos Rivers engaged him as the Chief Security Officer (CSO), in other to protect the oil pipeline installations against vandalism as well as provide adequate security for the expatriates in the waterways.

As the CSO then, he called on his fellow compatriots from Meinbotu, Febokirifagha, Olabrakonpre among others to deliver on the assignment given him to provide the needed security for the Multi-national oil companies to operate peacefully in the Excravos Rivers while the contract lasted.

Politically, Alaowei Friday lgbegbe was a active member and stakeholder in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State. He was a one time elected Councilor to represent Ogbe-ljoh Ward.

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Philanthropically, Friday lgbegbe was a very compassionate and generous man who always derives pleasure whenever he sees his fellow human happy. He is a cheerful giver, problem solver to whoever comes across his way with one issue or the other. He gives willingly and never in return to pay back.

As a social being, Friday lgbegbe was always full of smile at his face. He never put on hard face despite the condition. He is friendly, sociable and down to earth. He was very blunt and bend in saying the truth and doing what is right at the right time to whatever authority that may be. His truth saying made most people see him as a hard man, popularly called (stubborn man) in our contemporary society. He hates discrimination with passion. That is why he was a friend to the upcoming youths wherever he went.

Religiously, Friday lgbegbe was a christian who believe in the word and the Supreme Power of God Almighty. He was also a crusader and promoter of the ljaw culture and tradition.

Though as a human, he was not perfect but his generosity and patriotism toward the ljaw course and the Niger Delta Liberation struggle was unquantifiable. Until his sudden controversial demise, he was dedicated and committed in the ljaw course as well as the PDP family in Warri South West.

Ijaw Nation and the umbrella party PDP in Nigeria will greatly missed him.

It is hard for me to say RIP Alaowei Friday lgbegbe. You where my role model in most aspects of life. You respected and took me as a younger brother. Most at times, you thought me on how to live in peace and happily with people around me.

I can’t explain why you choose to leave this sweet and wicked world in this misterious circumstances. You where an hero and the ljaw people confide in you despite the ‘Them Say’ stories world people cooked against you in life.

You have unfinished projects Alaowei Friday Igbegbe, come back to accomplish them. Your ambition to become the next Council Chairman of Warri South West was on the pipeline. Why you do me so, Friday lgbegbe ?

I will greatly miss you my dear Alaowei. May God have mercy on your gentle soul in Jesus Mighty Name l pray, Amen.

Adddiiiieeeeuuuuuuu the Ebogha 1 of Ogbe-ljoh Warri Kingdom, Goodnight my hero.

Onduku writes from Warri. He is the  CEO/Publisher Niger Delta Mirror News Online