Delta Governor, Sen Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, has expressed deep sadness on the passing of Chairman, Delta State Bureau of Pensions, Sir Anthony Obuh.
Obuh, a retired Permanent Secretary and politician, hails from Oki community, Agbor Kingdom, Ika South Local Government Area of the state.
He reportedly died in the early hours of Thursday at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, after a protracted illness. He was aged 62.
The deceased was Permanent Secretary, Government House and Protocols between 2007 and 2014 when he retired voluntarily to contest for the office of Governor of Delta on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party PDP.
Although he lost the primaries, he remained a committed and loyal party man. Former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan later appointed him as Commissioner for Special Duties, a position he occupied until the end of the administration in May, 2015.
Under Gov Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration, he was appointed Chairman, Delta State Bureau of Pensions in June, 2018, a position he held until he died.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, on Thursday in Asaba, Okowa commiserated with the people of Ika South, Oki community in particular, Agbor Kingdom and the entire Delta Public Service community over the passing of the renowned civil servant and technocrat.
He said that Obuh was a respected civil servant, politician and administrator, who excelled in all his endeavours.
The governor described him as “thoroughbred technocrat” whose contributions to the civil service would be indelible, adding that he felt a “personal loss’’ with the demise of the great son of Ikaland.
“On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I mourn the passing of a gentleman and thoroughbred professional, Sir Anthony Chuks Obuh, who reportedly died early Thursday at the UNTH, Enugu.
“The news of his death came to me as a shock and I send my heartfelt condolences to the family, the people of Ika South and the entire bureaucracy in Delta on the passing of the renowned politician and top-notch civil servant.
“He was a gentleman-politician, and distinguished himself in the service of his state as a retired Permanent Secretary, Commissioner and current Chairman of the Pension Board.
“Until his death, he was an active member of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta and a leader in Ika South Local Government Area. He will be sorely missed by those whose lives he touched in many ways,” he said.
Okowa prayed God to accept the deceased’s soul and grant fortitude to the family and friends he left to bear the loss.
Meanwhile, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, on yesterday paid a condolence visit to the family of the Chairman, Delta State Bureau of Pensions, Sir Anthony Obuh, who passed on in the early hours of Thursday.
The governor, who was accompanied by his wife, Edith, top government functionaries, including Head of Service, Mr Reginald Bayoko and permanent secretaries arrived at the Obuh’s home in Asaba at 3.10 p.m.
He condoled with the deceased’s wife, Ogor Obuh, and son, Tony Obuh Jnr, family members, other relatives and well wishers who had thronged the residence to mourn the late technocrat, a retired permanent secretary.
Prayers were said by the governor and members of his entourage for the family for God to grant the deceased’s soul eternal rest.
The governor, who had earlier issued a condolence statement to mourn the departed Obuh, who was a governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), departed from the deceased’s home at 4.10 p.m.
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