Delta State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of a great bastion of the party, Chief Patrick Okitiakpe, at the age of 86 years.
The party conveyed its commiseration in a statement by the State Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, which reads:
“It is with a deep sense of sorrow and loss that we received the sad news of the passing of Chief Patrick Okitiakpe, at the age of 86.
Chief Okitiakpe was a founding member and an unshakable stalwart of the party, who held the PDP family in Delta Central, especially the Ughelli South axis together, with his fatherly love, wisdom, and accommodation, ensuring that the interest of our party was always placed before other contending considerations.
He was a well-respected elder statesman, an illustrious Deltan, a political colossus, and a former governorship contestant, as well as a renowned industrialist whose inspirational contributions to the political and socio-economic development of Delta State are well recorded and have remained indelible in the annals of the State’s chronicles.
Delta State PDP has indeed lost a major and dependable political pillar and our sincere condolence goes out to the immediate Okitiakpe family, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ughelli South Local Government Area and the entire Urhobo nation, on the passing of our leader and distinguished elder statesman.
We pray God almighty to give the family, associates, and peers, the fortitude to bear this monumental loss of a great and outstanding Deltan, who touched and impacted many lives positively both at home and beyond.
May his kind and gentle soul rest peacefully in the warm bosom of the Lord, Amen.”