By Paul Joseph
Port Harcourt State Senator Barinada Mpigi, who represented Rivers South-East Senatorial District, has passed away at the age of 64.
Mpigi, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, reportedly died on Thursday following a brief illness. As of press time, details surrounding the exact cause and location of his death had not been officially released, although family members confirmed that relatives are mourning his passing.
Unverified reports suggested that the lawmaker had been flown abroad for brain surgery after allegedly being diagnosed with a brain tumour. However, this claim had not been independently confirmed.
Until his death, Mpigi was known to be a close ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The late senator hailed from Tai Local Government Area in the Ogoni ethnic nationality of Rivers State.
Before his election to the Senate, he served two terms in the House of Representatives, representing the Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo Federal Constituency.
Mpigi was a member of both the 9th and 10th Senates and was serving in the current assembly at the time of his death.
A source who spoke on condition of anonymity described the news as devastating.
“We are shocked over this news. I am short of words. I don’t know what to say. We are in pain,” the source said.
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