By DADA AYOKHAI
Etsako Central local government area of Edo state is in deep mourning over the death of its pioneer council chairman, Chief Alemoh Akhigbe.
Family sources said the octogenarian passed away in the early hours of Friday morning, after a brief illness
As the news of his death filtered into Fugar, the commercial and administrative headquarter of Etsako Central before quickly spreading to its environs, palpable signs of grief were etched on the faces of the residents as they mourned the demise of the former council chairman, whom they described as a patriot and visionary leader
The late Chief Alemoh hailed from the popular Akhigbe family in Fugar, Etsako Central. He was the senior brother to the late Admiral Mike Akhigbe, the former Chief of General Staff (CGS) to the Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar who is credited to have played a pivotal role in the creation of Etsako Central local government.
The late Chief Alemoh became the first council chairman of Etsako Central and will be most remembered as the one who laid the foundation for the modern Etsako Central.
The family release about the demise of the patriarchy is still being awaited.
Some prominent associates of the former principal- turned politician, glowing tributes eulogizing him as a selfless community leader, opinion moulder, astute administrator, and top range politician has continued to flow ceaselessly.
Most of the tributes have so far come largely from political associates and friends who described his demise as the “fall of the iroko tree”
Among the first to pay glowing tributes to the late council chairman is Hon. Abubakar Momoh, also a former Etsako East council chairman during the same period with the late Chief Joseph Alemoh Akhigbe.
Hon. Momoh who also served two terms in the House of Reps representing the Etsako federal constituency described the late Chief Akhigbe as a “brother and dependable close political associate” who will neither quiver nor betray friendship even when the odds change
Recollecting with nostalgia how closely they knitted during their tenure as council chairmen, Hon. Momoh said he and the late Chief Akhigbe shared some common ideologies on people-oriented developments, insisting Chief Akhigbe clung to them till his last days on earth.
He further added that all through their days in the council, Chief Akhigbe was one person who did not see himself as being older but was always willing to mingle with the younger ones in order to tap from their wealth of experience in council administration.
He also reminisced how the late Chief Akhigbe, the late Alhaji Usman Shagady, and a couple of other like minds changed the face of Edo North politics when no one gave them the chance, noting the late Chief Akhigbe also supported his senatorial bid in 2015 with all his body and soul
According to Hon. Momoh, the death of Chief Akhigbe is a painful loss because his wise counsels would be sorely missed, coming, as it were, on the eve of the dawn of a renewed hope for a better Nigeria Surely
Hon. Momoh paid special tributes to the legacies of the late Etsako Central council chairman, saying as a teacher the late Akhigbe lived his life for others and also brought up his younger brothers, one of whom went on to become the number two citizen of the country, stressing it did not matter it was under a military regime.
While consoling the family on the “huge loss” of the patriarch of the Akhigbe family, Hon. Momoh prayed to God to grant them the fortitude to bear the loss of a dotting father, caring husband, grandfather, and brother.
