• Bonny LG host Banigo, RSG functionaries

Photo Credits: Government House Press/Ernest Epeleseitima

Bonny Island was agog today as it hosted the first female Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Dr Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, who was in town to dedicate a tombstone in honour of her late husband, Chief Dr Owen Gogo Banigo.

Dr Ipalibo Harry-Banigo said the Almighty God has been good to her family and owing to that she and her family would continue to offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and continue to pay her vows.

She said this during a Special Thanksgiving Service for God’s mercies and Tombstone Dedication organized by the family of the late Chief Dr Owen Gogo Banigo at the St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Bonny on Saturday, February 22, 2020.

According to a statement by her spokesman, Owupele Benebo, the Deputy Governor expressed gratitude to the Almighty God for His faithfulness over the years, though, she expressed regrets that the funeral service for her late husband, Chief Dr. Owen Gogo Banigo, who was the Chief and Head of the Banigo Chieftaincy House of Grand Bonny Kingdom, could not hold at the St. Stephen’s Cathedral at his demise in 2009.

“I want to sincerely thank our father in the Lord the Diocesan for permitting us to have this service I recall that we were not able to have his funeral service in this church in 2009 which was very heart breaking for the family”.

Dr Ipalibo-Banigo, who was a medical doctor and career civil servant who discharged herself creditably while in service before her elevation to the position of Deputy Governor, expressed appreciation to her boss, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, for the confidence reposed in her.

She further praised him for his unquantifiable support to the programme, stressing that the Governor also released key members of his team to grace the occasion.

In his sermon drawn from Exodus 14: 15-31 titled ‘Appointed for Service’, the Dean of the St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Bonny, Very Reverend Richard Ibituru Hart said God demands total and sincere service from us as Christians, stressing that when we offer ourselves first whatever follows next will be pleasing to God.

According to him we have a reason to praise the Lord at all times because of His benefits to us, stressing that moving forward with God brings testimonies.

The Deputy Governor’s late husband, Chief Dr. Owen Gogo Banigo was the first indigenous Urological Surgeon in the State, who initiated and nurtured the Urology Unit of the Department of Surgery in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Alakahia, Port Harcourt. He died on the 13th of February, 2009.

Dr Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, who was accompanied by the lawmaker representing Bonny Constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Abinye Blessing Pepple, the State Commissioner for Information, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, and the State Head of Service, Mr Rufus Godwins, among several other state government functionaries, was later hosted by the Chairman of Bonny LGA.

Dignitaries at the event included the Chairman of Degema LGA, Hon. Tony Philmoore, Vice Chairman, Bonny LGA, Hon. Anengi Barasua, Leaders of the and Degema and Bonny Legislative Assemblies, Rt. Hon. Dennis Philip and Rt. Hon. Miriam Hart, respectively, her deputy, Hon. Dipinye Jumbo, Chief Whip, Hon. Fiberesima Pepple, Councillors representing Ward 1, Hon. Christian Jumbo, Ward 5, Hon. Ibianga Brown, and Ward 8, Hon. Mie-Iyeoju Jumbo.

Others were the Chairman, Bonny Council of Chiefs, Chief Dagogo Wilcox, Secretary, Chief Arthur Willie-Pepple, Chief Reginald Hart, Chief Charles John-Jumbo, and Chief Godswill Benstowe, Chairman, Bonny Kingdom Local Content Monitoring Committee, Amaopusenibo Opuada Willie-Pepple, Chairman, Bonny Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (BOCHIMA), Mr. Lawrence Fubara Jumbo, and Chairman, Ijaw National Congress (Ibani Clan), Mr. Sowari Maxwell Hart, among others.