Chairman, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and a former military governor of Akwa Ibom State, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga has been reported dead.
Though no official statement has so far been released to confirm the demise of the 68 year old two-time Director General of Divine Mandate Campaign organisation of Governor Udom Emmanuel, he is widely rumoured to have died of Covid—19.
Nkanga, who according to sources has had a long battle with Covid-19, died on Thursday (Christmas eve).
The late Nkanga was Akwa Ibom governor from September 1990 to 1992 during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida, handing over to an elected civilian Governor at the start of the Nigerian Third Republic. Ufot Ekaette, who later became the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, was his deputy.
He retired as an air commodore in the Nigerian Airforce.
As the chairman of PANDEF, Nkanga was very vocal in the campaign for the restructuring of Nigeria and the development of the country’s Niger Delta region.
TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that neither the late Nkanga’s family, nor the Akwa Ibom State Government and PANDEF have released statements confirming his death.
More details later…