- Governor Oborevwori mourns
A former Deputy Governor of Delta State, Chief Benjamin Sunday Elue, has died at the age of 85.
Family sources confirmed that Elue passed away in the early hours of Saturday, following a brief illness.
Elue served as Deputy Governor of Delta State from May 29, 1999, to May 29, 2007, alongside former Governor James Onanefe Ibori. His tenure coincided with Nigeria’s return to civil rule after years of military governance, and he was widely regarded as playing a stabilising and supportive role in the formative years of the State’s leadership at the time.
A native of Obior in Aniocha North Local Government Area, Elue began his professional career as an educator, teaching in both primary and secondary schools.
He later transitioned into management consulting and private business, building a reputation as a disciplined administrator and entrepreneur before venturing fully into politics.
A stalwart of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Elue remained an influential party leader and respected elder statesman long after leaving office in 2007. Political associates frequently described him as a man of uncommon humility and unwavering loyalty, qualities that endeared him to colleagues across party lines.
Tributes have begun to pour in from political leaders and associates, many of whom hailed his dedication to public service and his contribution to laying the groundwork for governance in the State at the dawn of democracy. One tribute described him as a symbol of commitment, whose passing signals the gradual departure of the early architects of modern Delta State.
Born on June 6, 1940, his death marks the end of an era for one of the foundational figures in Delta State’s democratic administration.
Meanwhile, Delta State governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has expressed sorrow over the passing of Chief Elue.
Governor Oborevwori described the late elder statesman as a loyal patriot, seasoned administrator and committed party man whose contributions to the growth and stability of Delta State would remain indelible in the annals of its history.