The Bonny Local Government Council says the Chairman of the LGA, David Irimagha has passed on to the great after a brief illness, just as the All Progressives Congress (APC) mourned the departed politician.

The LG Council, in a statement signed by its Secretary, Omoni Longjohn, and circulated via social media, said the late Irimagha’s death took place at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) in Port Harcourt in the early hours of Saturday, September 18, 2021.   

The Council further announced that the erstwhile Vice Chairman, who has now assumed office as the acting Chairman, prayed the Almighty God to grant his wife, children, the Irimagha family, and the entire Bonny LGA the fortitude to bear the loss.

“It is with deep sense of loss and a heart filled with grief that the Bonny Local Government announces the death of the Executive Chairman, Engr. David Rogers Irimagha (JP) who passed on to the great beyond after a brief illness in the early hours of Saturday 18th September, 2021 at the University Of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (U.P.T.H) Port Harcourt.”

“On behalf of the entire staff and people of Bonny Local Government Area, the Acting Chairman of Bonny Local Government, Dame Anengi Barasua JP, pray that the Almighty God grant his wife, kids, the Irimagha family and indeed the entire Bonny Local Government Area the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss.”

Burial arrangement shall be communicated in due course. All enquires to the Government should be directed to the Acting Chairman, Bonny Local Government, Dame Anengi Barasua, JP. A condolence register is opened at the Office of the Executive Chairman, Bonny Local Government Secretariat.”

“May God grant his soul enteral rest.”

Expressing the condolences of his party over the demise of the late Chairman during a visit to the residence of the Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bonny, Rodaford Longjohn, Leader of the APC in Bonny LGA, George Tolofari commiserated with the immediate family of the deceased, the PDP, the political class and entire people of Bonny Local Government Area over the unfortunate incidence.

Also speaking, the Caretaker Committee (CTC) Chairman of the APC, Bonny Chapter, Ene Longjohn “admonished that nobody should gloat over another’s misfortune or celebrate the death of the other person,” adding that the APC was deeply saddened by Irimagha’s demise, noting that, “as a young man, he still had a lot to offer for the growth and development of Bonny Local Government Area and humanity in general before the cold hands of death snatched him”.

Responding, Rodaford Longjohn, who is also the Rivers State Commissioner for Local Governments, expressed gladness over the visit, saying that he was highly delighted at the ‘Bonny brand of politics’, which depicts that injury to one is injury to all.

He thanked the leadership of APC for the visit, promising to convey their condolences to the family of the late Chairman, as well as to the members of PDP, Bonny Chapter.

A statement signed by the Signed by the Director of Publicity of the APC, Bonny Chapter, Adolf Ransom Pepple, stated that the APC delegation comprised a former member of the House of Representatives, Tonye Longjohn, former Chairmen of Bonny LGA, Edward Pepple and Omuso Abbey, and a former CTC Chairman of Bonny LGA, Adonye Wilcox, among other party leaders and stakeholders.