Sen. Mpigi’s passing, difficult to comprehend – Nwoko

Nathan Tamarapreye

Sen. Ned Nwoko (APC-Delta) and Chairman Senate Committee on Reparations and Repatriation on Friday lamented the demise of his late colleague, Sen. Barinada Mpigi.
Mpigi, representing the Rivers South-East Senatorial District, passed away Feb. 19, at the age of 64.
Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, in his eulogy to the departed lawmaker in Abuja, stated that the announcement of Mpigi’s death still felt improbable, even a week after it occurred.
According to him, some bereavements strike with immediate force, while others foster disbelief that lingers well after the initial shock subsides.
“The departure of Sen. Barinada Mpigi is one of those bereavements that remains difficult to fathom. Even a week later, it retains an aura of unreality.
“He was, undeniably, a highly esteemed political stalwart, a steadfast foundation in Rivers politics, whose significance wasn’t fleeting but cultivated over time.
“The extent of admiration his constituents possessed for him was consistently manifested in the confidence and backing they granted him throughout his public service.
“From his period as Council Chairman, to his service in the House of Representatives, and culminating as the Distinguished Senator representing Rivers South East Senatorial District in the 10th Assembly, the people stood by him.”
Nwoko observed that allegiance of that kind was rarely coincidental.
“It is nurtured through approachability, presence, and a lasting connection with one’s constituency,” he said.
He further stated that beyond Rivers, the late Mpigi intricately integrated himself into Abbi in Ndokwa, Delta North, the ancestral home of his cherished wife, Mrs Patricia Obiageri Mpigi.
“He didn’t merely visit; he assimilated. Abbi was a place he embraced as his own. He identified with the community not just verbally but tangibly – through project implementations.
“He grasped the importance of publicly acknowledging individuals, bolstering communal pride, and reinforcing shared responsibility for development.
“I was privileged to be among those he recognized during the commissioning of street lighting projects in Abbi. That action reflected the magnitude of his political character.
“His passing is not just a profound sorrow for the Ogoni people of Rivers, who valued him and expressed that affection through unwavering political support across the years.
“It is similarly a loss for Abbi, which he embraced as kin, and indeed, a loss for Nigeria,” he said.
The lawmaker further expressed that some realities do not solidify until the final ceremonies, and until the solemn interment compels acceptance.
“Perhaps then the magnitude of this absence will fully register.
“For now, what remains evident is this: he lived as a unifier, served as a stabilizing influence, and was loved in a manner that only authentic connection can generate.
“May his legacy endure with the dignity he exemplified,” Nwoko said.