By Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, Esq.
Grief has a way of bringing people together, sometimes across political positions, offices and competing interests.
That was the picture in Warri on Friday when political leaders from across Delta State gathered at the First Baptist Church to bid farewell to late Mrs. Felicia Oritseolumewo Arenyeka, mother of the Delta State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Solomon Arenyeka.
At the centre of the gathering was Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, leader of the Delta APC, who arrived with his wife, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, and a large delegation of political leaders.
The delegation included former Governor Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, Senators Joel-Onowakpo Thomas and Ede Dafinone, Hon. Nicholas Mutu, Hon. Francis Waive, Lady Catherine Onyeme and Chief Senator Ighoyota Amori, Ph.D.
Traditional rulers, senior government officials, community leaders and other prominent stakeholders were also present.
For Chief Arenyeka, the day was primarily about saying goodbye to his mother.
But for the wider political community, the funeral offered something else: a moment to demonstrate that relationships can survive beyond the ordinary battles of politics.
When Politics Took a Back Seat
There were no campaign chants at First Baptist Church.
There were no party slogans competing for attention.
Instead, politicians, legislators, traditional rulers and community leaders gathered around a grieving family.
Oborevwori’s decision to lead the state’s political delegation gave the occasion an additional significance. As governor and leader of the APC in Delta, his presence underscored the importance of identifying with the state party chairman during a difficult personal moment.
The appearance of Senator Okowa, the immediate past governor, further broadened the gathering.
Together, the presence of serving and former political leaders offered an image of political fraternity at a time when political competition often dominates public discourse.
A Pastor’s Reminder to Leaders
The message from the pulpit was equally important.
Rev. Jesse Okoroji Jnr., Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church, Warri, described the deceased as a “woman of songs” and spoke about the values she represented.
His exhortation, “Life’s Practical Challenges to Christians and Office Holders,” was particularly relevant to the audience.
With political leaders and public officials seated before him, the cleric spoke about humility, steadfastness and faithfulness — qualities that extend beyond political office.
The message was a reminder that public office, regardless of its influence, is temporary, while the impact of a person’s character and service can endure.
Warri Development Takes Centre Stage
The funeral also became an opportunity to reflect on developments in Warri.
Rev. Okoroji commended the Oborevwori administration for its urban renewal programme, particularly the construction of flyovers, bridges and other infrastructure projects.
His remarks reflected the growing public attention being given to the transformation of Warri.
He nevertheless urged the government to accelerate work on the Warri-Sapele-Benin Highway, a major route with implications for transportation, commerce and regional connectivity.
The cleric also praised the peace in Delta State, stressing the importance of stability to development.
The Larger Meaning
A funeral is ultimately about remembrance.
But Friday’s gathering in Warri demonstrated how moments of grief can also reveal the strength of relationships within a political community.
Oborevwori did more than attend the funeral. He brought along a broad spectrum of Delta’s political establishment.
That gesture sent a simple message: political leadership is not only about elections, appointments, policies and power. Sometimes, it is about standing beside people when they face their most difficult moments.
For the Arenyeka family, the gathering was a final farewell to a beloved mother.
For Delta’s APC, it was a demonstration of solidarity.
And for the broader political community, it was a reminder that beneath political contests are human relationships that can still bring people together.