A former member of the House of Representatives who represented Ika Federal Constituency of Delta State, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, is dead.
The politician, who was a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, was said to have passed away on Wednesday evening while watching the AFCON semi-finals match between Nigeria and South Africa.
A source close to the politician said, “Cairo Ojougboh, a medical doctor died during the Nigeria vs. South Africa match.
“The incident happened when the penalty was awarded against Nigeria. Dr Ojougboh was said to have shouted and slumped due to massive heart attack when SA scored.”
However, the Publicity Secretary of Agbor Community Union, Mr Augustine Ekamagule, confirmed the death of the famous Delta politician in a telephone conversation with PUNCH Online.
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He said, “According to the President General of the Agbor Community Union, Chief Laurence Onyeche, Ojougboh died in Abuja while watching the football match of Nigeria vs South Africa.
“He said a member of Ojougboh family called him around 3am. on Thursday, informing him that Cairo Ojougboh had passed away.
“The family member said Ojougboh was watching the match and immediately South Africa scored the goal, he shouted and slumped.
“All efforts to revive him were not fruitful. It was around that 3am. the family announced his death.”
Onyeche said with the death of Ojougboh, Agbor has lost a voice in Nigerian politics, describing him as the number one politician in Agbor until his death.
“On behalf of the PG and members of Agbor Community Union where the Ojougboh belongs, we sympathise with the family.
“Our PG has asked me to issue a statement and he described Ojougboh as a fearless politician who did not only establish himself at the local level but at the national level,” he added.
Friends and political associates have been mourning the late politician on social media.
Akpabio commiserates with family
Meanwhile, Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has described the sudden death of a chieftain of the APC and former Executive Director of Projects in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Cairo Ojougboh, as shocking and a huge loss to the people of the Niger Delta Region and the entire country.
A statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, quoted the Senate President as saying, “the late Ojougboh as a member of the House of Representatives, contributed in no small way, his quota to the development of his people as their representative from 2003 -2007. He was the true voice of the people of Agbor, who ensured were seen and heard in the national scheme of things.”
Akpabio recalled the contributions of the Agbor-born politician to the development of the Niger Delta Region, when he occupied the office of the Executive Director Projects in the NDDC, while he superintended over the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
”On behalf of my family, the people of Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial and the Senate, I commiserate with the Ojougboh family of Agbor, the government and people of Delta State, on this painful demise of a notable and committed son of Agbor. I pray to God to grant his wife, children and those he left behind the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss,” he added.
