Odahiekwu Ogunde
National leadership, Pan Niger Delta Forum, has expressed shock over the death of its deputy national chairman, Chief Francis Doukpola.
PANDEF National Chairman, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (retd.), described Doukpola’s demise as painful.
Nkanga, in a statement on Friday, said the entire leadership and membership of PANDEF were saddened by the death of the “selfless, humane, trusted leader, friend, beloved compatriot and elder statesman” from Bayelsa State.
Doukpola, who died on Wednesday at 76, was also the chairman of Bayelsa Elders Council and a retired professional banker and former governorship aspirant in the old Rivers State and Bayelsa State.
The PANDEF boss said Doukpola’s death was a great loss to Forum, Bayelsa and the Niger Delta region.
He described him as a “steadfast, committed and dogged crusader of the Niger Delta cause, and the national quest for the restructuring of Nigeria.”
Nkanga further noted, “No words to describe the sadness we feel over his demise. We will greatly miss his invaluable contributions, as PANDEF Deputy National Chairman, to our efforts at fostering unity, peace, and development in the Niger Delta region.”
He prayed God to console Doukpola’s families, Agbere community, Bayelsa and the people of the region.