…Says Legal Luminary Was Trail Blazer, Touched Many Lives
The leadership of the Kono Leadership Forum, an umbrella body of prominent sons and daughters of Kono Town in Khana Local Government Area, Rivers State has described the passage of legal luminary, B. M. Wifa (SAN) as a great loss not only to the Ogoni people but to Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole.
Speaking during a condolence visit to the widow of late B.M. Wifa, SAN, in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, leader of the delegation of Kono Leadership Forum, Elder Lucky Yobana said the demise of the famed legal practitioner came to them as a rude shock as he exited the world when the younger generation were beginning to tap from his wealth of experience.
Accompanied on the visit by Dr. Williamson Oko, Secretary, Kono Leadership Forum, Mr. Leyira Nwiwiga, Chief Peter Nwiue, Mr. Godfrey Nwinaenee, Mr. Oscar Wikina, Comrade Sorte Yowika – President, Kono Youth Council and Pastor Jerry needam, Chairman, Peace Committee, Kono Leadership Forum, Elder Yobana said the late Wifa will be immortalized as the founder and life Chairman of the Kono Leadership Forum.
“Barrister B.M Wifa was our hero and proud ambassador who reached the echelon of the legal profession during his life time. He called all of us together and formed the Kono Leadership Forum, with the objective of making our community develop and stand out. He told us to forge ahead and make sacrifices for the rapid development of Kono Town, and he worked tirelessly during his life time to ensure the attainment of that objective. We will miss him dearly”, Elder Yobana said.
While calling on the Wifa family to take heart and bear the irreparable loss, Elder Yobana urged them to be consoled by the fact that late B.M. Wifa touched many lives positively and also lived a peaceful life worthy of emulation.
He also empathized with the widow, Barrister (Mrs.) Wifa for the stress in conveying the body of the fallen Senior Advocate of Nigeria from Europe where he passed on, to the country, assuring that the Forum would leave no stone unturned to ensure his dream for Kono Town is realized.
Responding on behalf of the Wifa Family, Mr. Barisi Wifa commended the group for standing with the deceased who until his demise was the life Chairman, Kono Leadership Forum and Head of the Wifa Family of Kono Town, Khana Local Government Area, Rivers State.
“We appreciate the cooperation the Kono leadership Forum gave to him while he sat as your life Chairman. We also appreciate the prayers that were offered during the period of his illness”, Barisi said, praying that even though death remained an inevitable end, God should let them live a little older and stronger before leaving the family.
On the burial arrangement of the late legal luminary, Barisi said consultations are still ongoing to ensure a well-deserved, befitting burial very soon.
“Because of his tall status in society; he was not just a Kono man, not just a lawyer. He belonged and led several organizations. So, the Rivers State government, the church and the professions he belonged to will be working in synergy with the Wifa family to package a befitting process for the send forth”, he said.
