Delta Governor, Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, has condoled with the Djebah family and Okwagbe community in Ughelli South Local Government Area on the passing of their patriarch and renowned industrialist and community leader, Chief Philip Djebah.
Djebah reportedly passed on peacefully on Tuesday after a brief illness. He was 95.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, on Wednesday in Asaba, Okowa also commiserated with the people of Urhobo and recalled that the late nonagenarian was an industrialist of repute, who pioneered steel stocking business in the Midwestern part of Nigeria.
He said that the deceased was a worthy statesman and community leader, who excelled in service to his people.
The governor described him as an “accomplished businessman who founded P. B. Djebah & Company Limited, his 72-year-old business empire from the scratch’’.
“On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I mourn the passing of an illustrious son of Urhobo nation and an accomplished businessman, Chief Philip Bivese Djebah.
“He was an elder statesman whose demise leaves a huge leadership burden on the Urhobo people and his sprawling business, which he founded in 1948.
“He was a community leader of immense repute and lived a life of great accomplishments.
“He was a gentleman, who distinguished himself in the service of his people, especially as a one-time President-General of the Ughievwen Union, Ukpedi Sub-Clan of Ughievwen Kingdom in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta.
“As a successful entrepreneur, the late Chief P.B. Djebah contributed immense resources to the development of Ughievwen people through his passionate philanthropy and business activities spanning several decades.
“His contributions to the economic growth and development of Warri, Urhobo nation, Delta and Nigeria, will remain in the consciousness of generations of Deltans and the Urhobo nation in particular,’’ he said.
He prayed to God to accept the deceased’s soul and grant fortitude to the family to bear the loss.
