By Abiola Olawale
The immediate past Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has expressed his sadness over the demise of a former Deputy governor of Delta State, Professor Amos Agbe Utuama, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 77 years.
Omo-Agege, the 2023 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, described Utuama as a legal luminary who distinguished himself in fighting for the rule of law to prevail in all affairs of state and levels of government.
In a heartfelt tribute signed by media adviser, Sunny Areh, Omo-Agege described the demise of Utuama as a great loss to Delta State and Nigeria at large.
The statement reads in part: “Having come into Chief Ibori’s government as a accomplished law teacher, Prof. Utuama was very instrumental in using his stature to instil a level of stability and respect for states at a time the Fourth Republic was still wobbling as a Federation where different political parties held sway in different states.
“I recall the days when Chief Ibori initiated the legal battles that preceded the commencement of the payment of the 13 per cent derivation fund as enshrined in the Constitution. Prof. Utuama’s stature and expertise drove the legal process that gave victory to the Niger Delta states.
“Indeed, the Niger Delta, not just Delta State, has lost a great son. His legacy will never be forgotten and Nigeria was lucky to have had him in government at the time his calibre was desperately needed.”
Omo-Agege commiserated with the Urhobo nation, Delta State and the Niger Delta region on the death of the former Deputy Governor.
The New Diplomat reports that Utama passed away on Saturday at the age of 77 years old.
He was born on June 5, 1947. He was a deputy to former Governor Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan. He was one of the finest legal luminaries in Nigeria and indeed, a very distinguished legal scholar whose exemplary legal knowledge was outstanding.
He served for eight years with Uduaghan on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Prior to that role, he was the commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of Delta State. That was under the administration of former Governor James Ibori.
Utuama was a well-respected Senior law lecturer at the University of Lagos. He was greatly loved by many both in the academia and in the political arena across all party lines. He was a devout Christian of the Catholic faith.
He hailed from Otughievwen (Otu-Jeremi) town in Ughievwen Kingdom of Ughelli South local government area of Delta State.
