The remains of Benue State last military administrator, late Brig. General Dominic Obukadata Oneya was laid to rest today at his ancestral Ehwehre home in Agbarhor, Delta State with Benue State fully represented at the event.
Benue State Deputy Governor, Engr. Benson Abounu , who stood in for Governor Samuel Ortom led a powerful delegation consisting of the former Commissioner for Works under the Oneya administration, Engr. Felix Atume, the then Chief Protocol Officer, Pst. Emmanuel Ikpe and the wife of the Secretary to the State Military Government, Mrs Esther Ikyertyo.
Before his internment at Agbarho, there was a funeral mass held in his honour at St. Jude’s Catholic Church, GRA, Effurun, which was attended by Engr. Benson Abounu, former Delta State Governor Chief James Ibori, Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Farouk Yahaya, NFF Chairman, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, Delta State SSG, Chief Patrick Ukah, Chief of Staff, Rt Hon. Festus Ovie Agas and wife Mrs Kevwe Agas.
Speaking at Ehwehre, Agbarho, Engr. Benson Abounu said the loss of the former military administrator is a big loss, not only to the Oneya family but to Benue State and the entire nation at large. He described late Brig. Gen. Oneya as a workaholic and a disciplinarian par excellence, whose footprints in Benue State and elsewhere stands out.
Earlier the Deputy Governor had on Thursday visited the family and commiserated with the wife of the deceased military officer, Mrs Patricia Edirin Oneya and the first son, Chief Anthony Oneya and delivered Governor Samuel Ortom’s message of commiseration to the family.
Late Dominic Obukadata Oneya served as military administrator of Benue State between August 1998 and May 1999 and was the one that handed over the reins of government to George Akume on 29th May 1999.