Bayelsa boat operators weep over death of billionaire Okoko

By Brave Dickson

Boat operators have joined in weeping over the death of a Bayelsa-born billionaire, politician and cleric, Pastor Keniebi Okoko.

Okoko passed on few days ago at Amethyst Healthcare and Diagnostic Centre in Lagos while undergoing Liposuction surgery.

Expressing their griefs, the former Chairman of the Big Boat Maritime Union (Nembe Unit), Chief Dumotonyo Ebiene told our correspondent that though the billionaire was not a mariner but all Bayelsa State mariners are weeping because he was a good man.

Ebiene also confirmed the commotion rocking the hometown of Okoko since his death was announced.

He said: “The death of Pastor Keniebi Okoko is a big blow to the people of Bayelsa State.

“He was not a mariner but we, the mariners who are indigenes of Bayelsa State are crying over his death because we have looked into his antecedents and noticed that he was a promising young man.

“Okoko was a young promising politician of just 42 years old who contested the PDP governorship primary of Bayelsa State and came out 3rd position and that was just his first approach in politics.

“But we can not challenge God who allowed the painful loss to occur.

“Maybe that was the destiny he (Okoko) had with God.

“All of us are crying over his death including my church members (Salvation Ministries).

“He was a good man.

“There is a very big commotion in his hometown since yesterday (Thursday) when his death became obvious to all.

“He just shared some bags of rice to his community members because of the hardship brought by COVID-19.

“Everybody is crying over his death.”