The people of Delta State are united in grief as they mourn the passing of Hon. Emeke Ukpe, a former member of the Delta State House of Assembly and a towering figure in local governance and public service. A man whose life was marked by unwavering loyalty to his people and a deep commitment to their development, Ukpe’s death leaves a void that will be hard to fill. His legacy, however, lives on through the countless lives he touched.
The Acting Governor of Delta State, Sir Monday Onyeme, has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Hon. Emeke Ukpe, describing it as a personal loss. Onyeme, who led a delegation of political leaders to the Ukpe family residence in Kwale, Ndokwa West Local Government Area, conveyed his condolences on Sunday, emphasising Ukpe’s unwavering loyalty to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his steadfast support for the Delta State Government.
“We are here because one of us, a brother, a colleague, a faithful party man, and a father has left us. We came to offer our condolences to the family, to the children, and to remind them that we stand with them during this difficult period of mourning,” Onyeme stated.
Reflecting on his personal relationship with the late Hon. Ukpe, the Acting Governor highlighted the deep bond they shared. “Chief Ukpe was a very dependable friend and brother. I have visited this house so many times that I’ve lost count. We ate together, drank together, and talked politics together. His passing feels like a part of me is gone. We can only pray that the Almighty grants his soul eternal rest.”
Reassuring the bereaved family of their continued support, Sir Onyeme added, “To the family, our brother and friend may be gone, but we are with you. Please find comfort in knowing that we remain part of your family and will be here for you. Whenever there is any need, do not hesitate to reach out to us. We will do our best to fill the void left by his departure.”
The Acting Governor further assured that the PDP leadership, both at the local and state levels, as well as Ukpe’s close friends, would be fully involved in his burial. “When you set a date for the burial, please let us know. We are committed to standing by you throughout this process,” he said.
In his message in the condolence register, Onyeme wrote, “Adieu, our great friend, our great confidant, a faithful party man, and a loyal and dependable brother. I am confident that you are now resting at the right hand of our Creator. Rest in peace, my dear brother.”
While addressing the impact of Hon. Emeke Ukpe’s life, Barrister Evans Ufeli, CEO of Enterprise Television, spoke about the immense contribution of the late politician to the people of Etua, describing him as the last of a dying breed of politicians who sincerely served the people.
“Honorable Chief Emeke Ukpe is one man that I admire so much because he's a community mover. Remember then, 1999, 2000, that era when he was local government chairman, how he empowered Etua indigene. In fact, at the ministry then, at the council, I mean, he employed over 90% of the graduates of that time in Etua. No discrimination. He's been able to put his people up there. Some of the people he employed 20 years ago are still there, still working. Some of them are getting to retirement now. That is what we expect from people. And to learn that he's no more is one that troubles the soul, because this is a loss, a very big loss.”
Ufeli continued, “This is a big loss to our community and we find it rather very disconcerting that we lose. But we cannot question God. But one of the lessons, or many of the lessons, you can glean from his lifestyle is that he poured himself into his people. He gave up everything. He gave up everything to empower his people. That is not so today. Not many people today who have opportunity to lead like he did have done remarkably well. So for me, as a son of the soil, as one who has observed him, one who knows him in person, and one who has close contact with him, I believe that all sons and daughters of Etua should learn from his life, how he lived his life, conducted himself, and how he gave immensely to his community, and he promoted the Etua brand and the Etua culture anywhere he went. We're happy that he lived quite a very good life.”
He added, “We pray that, you know, God will comfort the family, give them the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. And from all we do, we should remember that after our lives here, we have to give account of whatever we have done. We thank God for what we are today. We thank God.
“Yes, I mean, he gave a lot. He did so much that if you are from my place, you will understand what I'm saying. People came out from the universities from the scratch, greenhorns, and he undertook to empower them, put them in, employ them, you know, and they had to feed their families, develop a career, you know, they were able to access all they needed to. They may not be super rich, but I mean, it's a whole lot, because we have seen cases where people have such opportunities, and they make sure that nobody benefits from it. We have seen that, but his own case was different.
“And so we count that as a privilege. We count that as a blessing. And we count that for someone who was that altruistic, who was that there for his people, it's commendable. We have lost a very, very good man.”
