Society Gists

Billionaire industrialist and publisher of the defunct Post Express Newspapers, Chief Sunny Odogwu, has passed on at 87.

Odogwu, who holds the prestigious traditional title of ‘Ide Ahaba’ of Asaba Kingdom in Delta State, died on Monday night in his Lagos home.

He was a brother-in-law to former President Ibrahim Babangida, who married his late sister, Maryam.

Reacting to his passing, Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, and former governors of the state, Chief James Ibori and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, described it as a monumental loss to the Anioma people, the state and Nigeria.

Okowa in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, commiserated with the family of Odogwu, the Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Chike Edozien, and the Asaba people on the death of one of their most illustrious sons.

Also, Ibori in a statement by his Media Assistant, Mr. Tony Eluemunor, said though he was a much younger man than Odogwu, he related closely with him as a friend and governor of Delta State from 1999 to 2007.

Ibori said, “He was my adviser-in-chief during my campaigns in 1999. Odogwu, who was at the time already a house hold name in Nigeria and one of the richest Nigerians alive, was humble enough to strike real friendship with me. I benefitted greatly from his advice. His desire was a fast-track development of Delta State, which was just a few years old when I became governor.

“He made it his duty to help me understand the complexity of our dear state, Delta.”

Uduaghan said, ”I received with a heavy heart the news of the passage of a renowned businessman, philanthropist and industrialist, Odogwu.