By Tony Eluemunor
There is much lesson to be learnt from the rich tributes poured on Diokpa Sir Benjamin Sunday Chukwuenweniwe Elue, the former Deputy Governor of Delta State (1999–2007), who died on Saturday, February 28, 2026 and was laid to rest on April 17, 2026 at Obior, his home town in Delta State.
Anybody who read the tributes to this man who held the chieftaincy title of Alum of Obior, must have noted the praises ladled out abundantly in honour of Elue’s loyalty when he was Deputy-Governor. Perhaps, the only person of note who refused to recollect this aspect of that dearly departed was the immediate past Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa. He said of Elue: “Today, I joined family, friends, and well-wishers to celebrate the life and pay final respects to a remarkable elder statesman, Diokpa (Sir) Benjamin Sunday Chukwuenweniwe Elue.
“We have indeed lost a great son of Anioma, a father to many, and a seasoned politician. Pa Alum was meek, kind, humble, and deeply caring, qualities that endeared him to all who knew him. He was a mentor to many of us, especially in our early years in politics, and remained deeply committed to the growth and development of his community.
“His life was defined by honour, wisdom, and selfless service, and as we remember him, I am reminded that the greatest legacy we can leave behind is the impact we make in the lives of others.
“On behalf of my family, I extend heartfelt condolences to his family, the good people of Aniocha North, and Delta State at large. May God grant his soul eternal rest, and may his legacy continue to inspire generations.
“Goodbye, our great mentor.”
It is not surprising that Okowa did not attach much weight to the late Chief Alum of Obior’s track record of unfailing loyalty to the person who was Governor of Delta State when Elue served as Deputy Governor to Chief James Onanefe Ibori. This is because Okowa himself was a Commissioner in that same administration in which Elue was Deputy-Governor and Okowa became one of Ibori’s most virulent opposition devotees, an “arch-opposer” really. That a politician does not see eye to eye with a man in whose administration he served as Commissioner should not ordinarily raise red flags, but Okowa himself, while praying for Elue, said, “ May God grant his soul eternal rest, and may his legacy continue to inspire generations.”
If Okowa had left out issues of Elue’s legacy, the need for this write would not have arisen. I would have just written in praise of Chief Elue because there is much to praise in his life. Most tributes and news reports I read never mentioned that Chief Elue’s beginnings were couched in serious monetary hardship. Yet, he overcame the deprivations occasioned by monetary lack to actually go to school and later became an educationist and a school principal. This man whose childhood witnessed chronic deprivation rose to become a Deputy Governor. His story, based on that foundation alone, tells of the Nigerian dream; that a man could raise himself by the strings of his inadequate boots.
Yet, when we consider the fragile peace which had enveloped Delta State politics because of the rotational and non-divisive politics Ibori had championed when he was leaving office, remaining true to his vision of power rotation, and how Okowa shattered that peace, we will appreciate the tragedy Okowa unleashed on Delta State. The State had been spared the acrimony that had engulfed most other States in Nigeria. The cause of such acrimonies had two unmistakable faces; unruly and despotic godfatherism and disloyalty of Deputy Governors…but not any longer.
It is to the late Elue’s credit that he resisted the temptation that came his way from Abuja to entice him to attempt to side with Abuja’s evil plots during Olusegun Obasanjo’s central administration to demonise Ibori. When the enticement had no effect on Elue, Ibori’s Deputy-Governor, Abuja tried the stick approach; and Elue was accused of gun-related issues. I was in Yola, the Adamawa State capital to report on the trouble that had mounted against then Vice President
Atiku Abubakar’s chief supporter in that State, the then Governor Boni Haruna, when Chief Elue’s Chief of Staff, Chief Emma Ejiofor, phoned me that there was trouble; that the Deputy Governor was under the accusation that some illicit guns were discovered in a car that was in his entourage. I had to leave Adamawa’s capital, Yola, immediately for Abuja in answer to that call.
Now, that attack against the man’s good name was improvised to get him to turn an enemy to his Governor and be first in line to step into Ibori’s office, if he fell from power. First, Ibori had been accused of being an ex-convict sentenced by a Bwari Upper Area Court in 1995 because of “zinc asbestos” (which does not exist in the entire universe as there is either corrugated zinc roofing sheet or asbestos roofing sheet). Ibori’s workers were alleged to have stolen the roofing sheets during the construction of the Lower Usuma Dam, which supplies Abuja with portable water, today, so the forged Certified True Copy of that judgment had it that Ibori was sentenced for “criminal negligence” and not stealing.
Now, why do I call that CTC a forgery? By 1995 the dam in question had been completed for almost 11 years and it started supplying water to Abuja by 1987. By 1995 the company that built the dam, Spibat, had actually left Nigeria. These facts can be verified at the Abuja Water Board headquarters. The Engineer in charge when water flowed from the dam into Abuja for the first time, Engr Anton, gave me the facts.
Yet, Abuja, during Obasanjo’s administration, wanted to make such stupid allegations stick against Ibori and many newspapers and magazines joined in hollering that nasty accusation.
When that attempt to use that stupid ex-convict allegation to stop Ibori failed, plans were floated to get Ibori arrested overseas so that he would receive the treatment that was later visited on the Bayelsa state Governor, DSP Alamieyeseigha. Two or threevof such attempts were planned against Ibori when he was to visit Germany and China. He got wind of the plots and remained home. As he didn’t go to China to firm up the Asaba Airport construction project, it lay on the table and Ibori’s successor, Dr. Emma Uduaghan had to construct the Airport. Yes, Alamieseigha was actually warned that Abuja had plotted his arrest, but the man said in a newspaper interview that he didn’t believe that the President of Nigeria in 2005 could be so nefarious. He travelled and was arrested.
So, the late Elue refused to play the devil’s game against Ibori. He remained ever faithful and helped maintain the peace that pervaded Delta state, until former Gov. Okowa killed that peace – when he moved against Ibori and opened the pandora’s box against Delta state. The result was that first, he shattered the peace that had held PDP together in the state. Many left the PDP solely because of him. After that, he moved into the APC and shattered the peace there, too. His Senatorial District had usually found truce by avoiding acrimonious intra-party elections, but now, Okowa is making that one history as he is war-faring against the incumbent Senator, Chief Ned Nwoko, though his own daughter is an incumbent legislator. His wife may even contest to become a member of the House of Representatives and another child of his could become a Local Government Chairman – to prove his almighty powers.
Actually, the late Elue’s real legacy in Delta state is that of loyalty. Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, “described the late elder statesman as a loyal patriot, seasoned administrator and committed party man whose contributions to the growth and stability of Delta State would remain indelible in the annals of its history.” He added in a condolence message issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon: “During his time in office, he was known for his humility, dedication to duty and unwavering loyalty to the administration he served”. Again: “Chief Benjamin Elue was a man of honour and integrity who served our dear state with passion and loyalty. His invaluable service to Delta and its citizens will remain evergreen,” the Governor added.
Former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege detailed this legacy out: “Chief Elue laid the template on how deputies should conduct their affairs in order to engender an atmosphere of stability and trust in the executive branch. He completely cued into the developmental agenda of his principal, Chief James Ibori. He earned the respect and honour of political and administrative leadership in Delta State. I can attest that Chief Elue was a principal factor in the success of that administration. It is a testament I am in a good position to give, having worked closely with him and the Governor as Commissioner and later Secretary to the State Government (SSG) during their tenure.
“Unfortunately, Chief Elue’s template was not adopted by latter day Deputy Governors who end up having fractious relationships with their principals. It is the prime reason actual governance is relegated in some States while the struggle for dominance defines some administrations.
“Chief Elue has bequeathed a legacy of humility, trust, dedication and camaraderie between deputy governors and their principals. He was an elder statesman whose virtues and companionship will be sorely missed,” Omo-Agege stated in a statement signed by Sunny Areh, his Spokesman.
Those thinking that I am being hard on Okowa may not know that it was because of Ibori’s intervention that the President Goodluck Jonathan PDP loyalists did not snatch the Governorship baton from Ibori’s group which favoured Okowa. The then PDP National Chairman visited the former Minister, Elder Godswill Orubebe in his Abuja home and told him openly that PDP was leaving Delta for Ibori. Orubebe acquiesced and swallowed his Governorship ambition because he was actually the one who led the delegation Jonathan sent to London to discuss with Ibori.
Also, the late Delta State Commissioner, Dan Okenyi, led the delegation the Anioma Traditional rulers sent to Ibori, in London, to ask for his support for Okowa’s candidacy. Ibori gave his word and kept it. On the day of the PDP convention, text messages spread that Ibori, from prison, had asked that Okowa be voted for. And that was what happened. But some imbeciles now claim that Ibori didn’t support Okowa… though Ibori carried Okowa on his back and ran the race for him.
Talking about loyalty, when Okowa paid a condolence visit to Okenyi’s and late Senator Peter Nwaobishi’s widows, I wondered if that man only waits for death before showing his love. If you doubt me, ask Okowa when last he visited Nwaoboshi or Okenyi. I sincerely hope he was in good relations with Chief Elue on this side of heaven.
