A former Senior Special Assistant on Community Development and a one-time executive chairman of Okerenkoko Federated Community in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, Hon. Akpodiekumor Oturubo, has asserted that the loss of some notable band members of Chief Barrister Smooth, an Ijaw highlife musician, is beyond the musician alone as the tragedy has thrown the entire Ijaw Nation into mourning.

Hon. Oturubo, who was in company of Hon. Godspower Ebiyai and Mr. Henry Bubor, made the assertion during their condolence visit to the SmoothVille Studios of the Born Singer and the Paddle of the Niger Delta in the Effurun area of Delta State on Monday, July 17, 2023.

The renowned highlife musician had lost some crew members that included Chief Joseph Ekeremieye alias Egberiegbolo-emi and the Niger Delta Queen of Highlife IKesima Brown, among others, in a ghastly motor accident along the Abuja-Lokoja Highway on Sunday, June 11, 2023, on their way to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

According to Hon. Oturubo, who recounted how he told other guests present that he had wished Chief Ekeremieye was around to play at an event he attended on June 11th, said in not less than forty minutes after making that pronouncement, the tragic news of the accident broke and threw everyone into a confused sad state.

The former SSA and chairman of Okerenkoko community charged the Ijaw maestro musician to take heart just as he thanked all those who have been supportive of the bereaved band leader by their standing by him, which is further prove that the entire Ijaw Nation was affected by the colossal loss which he said “will take time to recover from”.

Also speaking, Hon. Ebiyai, a former member of the Delta State Waterways and Land Security Committee, charged Chief Smooth and his band members to be of good courage just as he reminded all present that good and bad things are bound to happen even though people pray against bad things in life, as God knows best.

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