By Stanley Onyekwere
In a powerful display of political solidarity and personal grief, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced a N500 million support fund to ensure the family of the late Senator Barinada Barry Mpigi is never “abandoned.”
Speaking on Thursday at a poignant Night of Tribute in Port Harcourt, Wike moved beyond the traditional rhetoric of mourning, insisting that true loyalty to a fallen comrade must be backed by tangible action.
The “Rivers State Rainbow Coalition” pledged the half-billion-naira intervention to establish a foundation aimed at securing the long-term welfare of the Senator’s dependents and preserving his legislative legacy.
Wike, who was visibly emotional and at one point fought back tears, challenged the political class to move past superficial ceremonies.
”Forming committees for burial is not enough. We must show clearly that we will not abandon the family he left behind,” Wike declared.
Accompanied by his wife, Justice Eberechi Wike, and a high-powered delegation of PDP and regional leaders—including BoT Chairman Senator Mao Ohuabunwa and South-South Monarchs Forum Chairman Ohna Sergeant Chidi Awuse— the Minister described Mpigi as a “fearless and dependable ally.”
Recalling Mpigi’s unwavering support during turbulent political seasons, Wike shared a personal anecdote of the late Senator’s devotion.
”When we had political challenges, Barry was always coming to my house to show solidarity.
“One day, he came very early in the morning, looked at me, and said, ‘Master, no matter the situation, I will never leave you'”, Wike recounted.
Beyond his personal ties, he credited Mpigi as the engine room behind the establishment of the Federal University of Environment and Technology, Ogoni, marking him as a champion for the Ogoni people.
Senator Mpigi, who passed away on February 19, 2026, was a grassroots mobilizer whose career spanned decades of public service.
As the night concluded, the recurring theme among dignitaries was clear: while the Senator is gone, the “Rainbow Coalition” intends to ensure his flame of generosity is kept alive through the newly minted N500 million endowment.
