Shaibu, Wike, Agara, others bid Dan Orbih farewell in Edo state

The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Comrade Philip Shaibu; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; and Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment, Silas Agara, were among prominent personalities who joined family members, political associates and well-wishers to bid farewell to late Chief Daniel Osikheme Orbih in Ogbona, Edo state.

Orbih, a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo state and chairman of the Governing Council of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, was buried in his hometown of Ogbona, in Etsako Central Local Government Area, on Saturday, October 10, 2026. He died in August at the age of 64. Blueprint reports

The burial attracted political leaders, government officials, party chieftains and other dignitaries from across the country, reflecting the deceased’s longstanding involvement in Edo state politics and the relationships he maintained with people across political divides.

Among those who attended were Edo state governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo; former governor and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole; former Speaker of the Edo state House of Assembly, Frank Okiye; and the current Speaker of the assembly, Yekini Idaiye.

Other dignitaries included Delta state governor Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by Festus Okunbo; former deputy governor of Nasarawa state, Silas Agara; Senator Magnus Abe; the Edo state Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa; members of the Edo state House of Assembly; and chieftains of the PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Members of the PDP National Working Committee, led by its chairman, Abraham Mohammed, also attended, alongside officials of the party’s state working committee and representatives of the APC leadership in Edo State.

Comrade Shaibu, Wike and Agara were among the notable figures whose presence underscored the broad attendance at the funeral. While some of the dignitaries attended without making public statements, the ceremony brought together political associates and public office holders to honour the late politician.

Wike describes Orbih as close friend, brother

Wike, who spoke about his personal relationship with the deceased, said the funeral activities had brought home the reality of death and the pain of losing a close friend.

The minister said seeing Orbih’s casket made him confront the finality of his friend’s death, despite the memories and relationships they had shared.

“When I saw the casket, it dawned on me that truly my friend and brother is gone,” Wike said.

He added that there was little left for the bereaved family and friends to do beyond praying for God to give them the strength to endure the loss.

The minister’s remarks reflected the personal dimension of the burial, which was not only an occasion for political associates to pay their last respects but also an opportunity for family members and friends to mourn someone they had known closely.

Wike also acknowledged Governor Okpebholo’s support for Orbih’s family, thanking him for standing with them and for paying his last respects to the deceased at his residence in Benin City.

The minister’s comments placed emphasis on the importance of support for bereaved families, particularly during the difficult period following the death of a loved one.

Wike dismisses speculation about relationship with Edo governor

The FCT minister also used the occasion to address suggestions that there was a disagreement between him and Governor Okpebholo.

Wike insisted that their relationship remained cordial, dismissing the impression that differences had emerged between the two political figures.

“There is no problem between me and the governor, we are very close, we work together and we would continue to work together,” he said.

He explained that his remarks were intended to correct what he considered a wrong impression created by comments he made during the Night of Tribute organised in honour of Orbih.

The clarification added a political dimension to the funeral, as Wike sought to put to rest speculation about his relationship with the Edo governor while joining other dignitaries to mourn the deceased.

However, the dominant focus of the occasion remained the loss suffered by Orbih’s family and the opportunity for friends and associates to pay their final respects.

Okpebholo remembers Orbih as a bridge-builder

Governor Okpebholo, who spoke briefly and appeared emotional, reflected on the fleeting nature of life.

“There is nothing in life,” the governor said.

In an earlier tribute, Okpebholo described Orbih as a man of conviction and compassion who understood the value of humanity, friendship and mutual respect.

According to the governor, the late politician’s ability to build bridges, extend goodwill and maintain meaningful relationships across political divides distinguished him as a person of uncommon character.

The tribute highlighted a dimension of Orbih’s public life that extended beyond party affiliation. As a prominent PDP figure in Edo State, he operated in a political environment where disagreements between parties were often pronounced. Yet, those who paid tribute to him emphasised the relationships he maintained with people from different backgrounds.

Okpebholo urged Nigerians, particularly those occupying public offices, to make life meaningful for others, noting that wealth, positions of authority and other achievements could not change the reality of death.

He also prayed for God to grant the bereaved family the fortitude to bear the loss.

The governor’s remarks reinforced the message that public office and political influence should be accompanied by concern for people and the relationships that endure beyond political contests.

Family recalls Orbih’s relationships with people

Orbih’s younger brother, Francis, also remembered him as a bridge-builder who maintained cordial relationships with people across different backgrounds.

His description echoed the emphasis placed on friendship and mutual respect in the tributes delivered at the burial.

For the family, the ceremony marked the end of a personal chapter and the beginning of a period of mourning. For Orbih’s political associates, it was an opportunity to reflect on their years of interaction with a figure who had been active in Edo State politics and party administration.

The deceased’s wife, Florence, offered a brief but emotional farewell, saying: “Sleep well. Go well. Till we meet at Jesus’ feet.”

Her words captured the grief of a family saying goodbye to a husband and relative, even as friends and associates gathered to celebrate his life and mourn his passing.

The religious service was conducted in a Christian atmosphere, with the Archbishop of Auchi Diocese, Bishop Amos Dunia, urging the congregation to remain steadfast in their faith.

In his homily, Dunia said Orbih had completed his race on earth and encouraged those present to reflect on their own lives, amend their ways and obey the dictates of God.

The cleric’s message focused on mortality and the need for people to live in accordance with their faith, reminding the congregation that death was an inevitable part of human existence.

Political leaders converge on Ogbona

The attendance of political leaders from the PDP and APC highlighted the broad gathering at Orbih’s burial.

Apart from Wike, Okpebholo and Oshiomhole, the presence of Shaibu, Agara, members of the Edo State House of Assembly and other political figures reflected the range of public officials and associates who came to pay their last respects.

The gathering included serving and former public office holders, legal officials, party leaders, family members and friends. Their attendance brought together people whose relationships with Orbih had been shaped by politics, public service, personal friendship and community ties.

While not all those present made public statements, their attendance formed part of the farewell to the late politician.

Orbih was a prominent figure in Edo State’s PDP politics and also served as chairman of the Governing Council of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. His political career placed him at the intersection of party organisation, state politics and public institutional administration.

His death therefore marked the loss of a figure whose activities extended beyond one political office, even as the tributes at his burial focused largely on his personal relationships, character and interaction with others.

A final farewell to a prominent Edo politician

Orbih’s burial in Ogbona brought together family members, friends, political associates and public officials to mourn his passing and reflect on his life.

The tributes by Wike and Okpebholo, alongside the recollections shared by his younger brother and wife, presented a picture of a man remembered by those closest to him for friendship, compassion and the ability to maintain relationships across political divides.

For the family, the ceremony was a painful farewell to a loved one. For his political associates, it was an occasion to honour a former PDP state chairman whose years in public life made him a familiar figure in Edo State politics.

As dignitaries departed Ogbona, the central message of the funeral remained the value of human relationships and the need to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Orbih’s final journey brought together people from different political camps, united for a common purpose: to pay their respects to the late chief and stand with his family at a moment of loss.