The demise of former
Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State,Col. Sam Inokoba (rtd) who Wednesday slumped and died in his Lagos residence has continued to attract sympathy from political associates and friends
Inokoba  aged 67, who later joined AllProgressive Congress (APC) barely two weeks ago was said to have died while on a visit to his family in Lagos.
Reacting to the development, the former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, described the late Col. Sam Inokoba (rtd) as a great community leader and an intelligent politician whose contributions to society would be missed by the whole Bayelsa and, indeed, Nigeria.
In a statement issued via e-mail, by his Media Adviser, Mr. Doifie Buokoribo, Sylva said Wednesday’s death of Inokoba had left a vacuum that would be impossible to fill.
Inokoba, a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Bayelsa State Chairman, defected to All Progressives Congress (APC) about a fortnight ago alongside more than 1000 PDP members.
“The news of the death of Col. Sam Inokoba (rtd) was a terrible shock to me, my family, and the entire All Progressives Congress family both in Bayelsa State and Nigeria, in general. We share the grief of his family and friends.”
“Inokoba was not only close to me, personally, but as a new convert to the current change agenda in Bayelsa State, we shared dreams of a better state, thoughts about the challenges ahead, and regrets about the condition of things in our state. He leaves a vacuum that can never be filled. His intellect, political sagacity, insight, and passion for the state, the Ijaw nation, and Nigeria, generally, were wonderful qualities that we cherished.
“Inokoba was a true leader, a successful family man, and a great community leader, and a retired soldier. Our thoughts are with the bereaved family in this time of grief. Inokoba will be missed by all of us.”
The former governor, however, said that the people of Bayelsa State would take solace in the political and communal legacies left by Inokoba.”We know that the memory of Inokoba will serve as an inspiration to all Bayelsans that knew him,” Sylva stated.
In his reaction, Governor Henry Seriake Dickson described Col. Inokoba’s demise, as a personal loss to him, having worked to ensure his emergence as the Chairman of the PDP in the State as well as the symbiotic relationship that existed between them, stressing that, he would be greatly missed by his family and close associates, especially the political class.
Governor Dickson prayed God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss as well as grant his soul eternal rest.
A Government House statement, also assured the bereaved family of the government’s preparedness to support and participate in the rites of passage for Late Col. Inokoba.
While some family members claimed the former PDP Chairman may have died of food poisoning,others claimed that the deceased Chairman’s health was frail and should have gone on a deserved holiday devoid of political activities.
Inokoba was reported to have procured his Expression of Intent and Nomination Forms at the APC secretariat in Abuja to contest the Governorship election primaries of the Party.
According to his son, Waripamo Inokoba, “my father slumped at about 2am in the early hours of Wednesday and was confirmed dead before he was taken to the hospital.Some of our people are on their way to Lagos to bring back his corpse.”
The Inokoba family,in a statement signed by the deceased elder brother, Clee Inokoba and first son, Waripamowei Inokoba,confirmed the incident.
One of the early sympathizers to the house, a former member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Indutimi Komonibo,in his condolence message in a register opened at the home of the deceased stated that “You are a great loss to us.Hard to believe.But no one can question God.”