Former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan has lost his uncle, Elder Omieworio Afeni.
The senior citizen died in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State, after a brief illness.
Elder Afeni, aged 87, was the younger brother to the ex-leader’s mother.
A statement by Jonathan’s media office said the president was “deeply pained”.
The family, however, expressed gratitude to God “for the gift of a long and fulfilling life.”
Jonathan described the deceased as a forthright individual who promoted peace and unity in the community.
“Elder Omieworio Afeni would be sorely missed for his wisdom and wise council,” he noted.
The burial has been scheduled for March 23; funeral arrangements will be announced later by the family.
Jonathan, his mother, and other family members are currently at Otuoke receiving sympathisers.
In other News, Prince Ned Nwoko, the Delta North senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has urged Nigerians to elect the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, stating that it will be easy for them to work together.
Nwoko made the assertion during an interactive session with journalists in Asaba.
Nwoko who was a guest at “The Platform”, a programme organized by the Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ also said he wouldn’t like to be in the opposition when he emerges as the next senator at the red chamber.
He explained that he can’t function effectively well as an opposition in the house.
According to Hon. Nwoko, it will be an uphill task for him to go and convince Peter Obi and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to do what he wanted for him.
He stressed: “It’s almost impossible. But if I have Okowa and Atiku, it’s easy. Please, make room for them. I believe they will make things happen. If I am in opposition, it becomes a problem.”
Nwoko noted that the PDP agenda will be those things discussed and agreed upon with the people.
While noting that the same goes for the governor, Nwoko told the people that they are shooting themselves in the leg if they support a candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC to be governor of Delta State.
“I cannot work with an APC governor. I know him,” he said.
He then solicited support for all PDP candidates in the forthcoming elections.