TELL Magazine

•     …..Dies in Hospital, Nwoko Mourns

The celebration mood at the government house, Asaba, Delta State, was on Monday dampened when one Bolum Okwuchi, a former political aide to the immediate past governor of the state, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, slumped and was rushed to the hospital where he died about two hours after.
TELL authoritatively gathered that the incident happened after the swearing-in ceremony of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, and Okwuchi, popularly called ‘Political’, joined others at the government house for a continuation of the celebration for a successful transition of power.  The deceased was said to be a loyalist of billionaire businessman, and senator-elect for Delta North senatorial district, Ned Nwoko. He recently dumped the All Progressives Congress, APC in his Aniocha local government area of the state, for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to support Nwoko.
Okwuchi was the Director of an Asaba-based oil and gas company, Trans-bolic Limited, who at different times worked with Nwoko as director of security, as well as a Legislative   aide at the National Assembly, Abuja at the office of the speaker.
An unimpeachable source who witnessed the sad episode, hinted the magazine that “he slumped there at government house but he didn’t die there”. According to him, “after inauguration at the stadium, we went to the government house. From government house, he now collapsed they took him to the Asaba Specialist Hospital. We were there for two hours as he was not confirmed dead yet. He was still moving; he was still okay. You know, somebody who collapsed, so he died in the hospital about two hours later. The man did not die at the inauguration venue; he died at the hospital. He was a political aide to Okowa. He was working with Ned, but Okowa gave him an appointment”.
Though there had been no official reaction from the state government as of the time of going to press, Ned Nwoko had however been mourning the demise of his director of security.
When contacted, the newly appointed chief press secretary to the governor, Festus Ahon, claimed not to be aware of the incident. According to the former Delta State correspondent of the Vanguard, “I am not aware of anything like that. I will find out and get back to you. You know I just resumed. Let me settle down; I will get back to you”.
But in a statement on Tuesday, the Ned Nwoko Media Directorate said it “received with shock and deep sadness, the painful loss of Mr. Bolum Okwuchi” who was Director, Security during Ned Nwoko senatorial campaign. The statement said Okwuchi died yesterday, May 29, 2023, at Specialist Hospital Asaba, “where he was admitted after feeling sick”. The deceased was described as “a lively, dedicated and amiable fellow with grassroots popularity especially in the circle of politics which earned him the appellation “Political” by numerous admirers”.
According to the statement, “Hon. Prince Ned Nwoko, Senator-Elect Delta North, is deeply saddened about the death of Bolum Okwuchi. Ned Nwoko Media Directorate extends heart-felt condolence to the immediate family of the late Okwuchi who hailed from Onicha-Ugbo in Aniocha North local government area of Delta state. We ask for privacy from members of the public, during this period, as the entire family and close associates mourn his sad loss. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace”.