By Matthias Ogbagah

The Board of Trustees, the National Executive Committee, the entire membership of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), and indeed the people of the Niger Delta, South-South geopolitical zone have conveyed their heartfelt commiserations to the families of the former Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama SAN and Government and people of Delta State, over the sad demise of the former Deputy Governor who died at the age of 77.

In a press release signed by the national publicity secretary of PANDEF, Chief Dr. Obiuwevbi Christopher Ominimini, it reads in part;
“PANDEF notes with sadness, the death of H.E Utuama in Warri Delta State in the early hours of Saturday after a protracted illness.

“With his passing on, not only have the Utuama ‘s family and Delta State lost a prominent Leader, but the Nation has equally lost another highly detribalized, and patriotic politician, who strongly believed in the unity and progress of the country.
“He demonstrated unique leadership qualities and exuded uncompromising love for Delta State, & Nigeria as a country.
PANDEF described the former Delta State deputy governor from 2007 to 2015 under the administration of former governor Emmanuel Uduaghan as a man who demonstrated a high level of competency and selfless service.
“PANDEF notes that Utuama while in office as a Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state and later as Deputy Governor of Delta State, was, indeed, a man of noble character, steeled conviction, and a trusted defender of our democracy. The nation, and the political class, in particular, will sorely miss him.
“The deceased was a world-class academic scholar whose teachings and research undertakings had contributed immensely to the Nigerian legal profession and jurisprudence.
“He was a gentleman politician and scholar who proved himself in the service to humanity, first as Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state and later as Deputy Governor of the state, Delta State