What a tragedy that has befallen a family and a party as two prominent brothers and bigwigs of All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom State died in less than four months!
As the family members of Nto Udo Uke in Ikot Akpan Anwa, Ika Local Government Area were making arrangements for the obsequies of their son- Dr. Ime Okopido, another family member- Mr. Ini Okopido, the state APC Chairman, died Wednesday morning at Ibom Specialty Hospital, Uyo, thus throwing the family into mourning.
Ime, a brother to Ini and a one-time Minister of State for Environment, died in April this year and the burial planning committee was put in place for his obsequies.
Ime had served as the pioneer Caretaker Committee Chairman of the defunct Ika Local Government Area while Ini contested for the chairmanship of former Abak Local Government Area under the defunct Social Democratic Party but lost to the late Obong Ekpenyong Okongnko Udoutun of the defunct National Republican Party.
Survived by Idara, a management staffer of Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation, Uyo and four children, Ini Okopido who was born on May 17, 1963 attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he bagged a degree in Zoology in 1986.
Confirming the passage of Ini Okopido into eternity, Dr. Ita Udosen, the state Deputy Chairman of the party in a press statement issued Wednesday said “On behalf of the leaders, elders, members and the various Organs of our Party, I regret to announce the passing away to eternal glory of our dear State Chairman, Hon Ini Titus Okopido.
“He died in the early hours of today after a brief illness.
“Our hearts are heavy with grief as we mourn with his wife, children and family. This is a very painful death to the whole of the APC family in Akwa Ibom State in particular, and Nigeria as a whole.”
According to him, “Our Chairman was a committed and dedicated progressive and Party loyalist whose ideals were inexorably tied to the philosophy of our great Party. He contributed immensely to the growth of the Party in the last two years he’s been Chairman.
“We call on our members to keep the family of our Chairman in prayers in this very difficult moment.
“As we mourn our beloved Chairman, we also remember the families of all our members who have also passed away recently,
“May their souls rest in perfect peace,” he added.
