- * Reportedly Diabetic And Died Of High Blood Pressure
By Gloria Acholonu (Imo State Correspondent, in Owerri)
A pall of gloom, on Tuesday, cast over the rustic community of Izombe, in Oguta Local Government Area Council of Imo State, when news tragically filtered that Deacon Donald Ndubisi Igbo, an illustrious son of the community and a former Accountant-General of Imo state, had passed on.
Mr Igbo, a trained Accountant and a stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State, reportedly died at a public hospital in Owerri, Imo State capital, allegedly from complication of high blood pressure. The top retired Imo civil servant was also said to be severely battling with diabetes over the years. He was said to be married with three teenage daughters and young grown up sons.
The deceased Donald Ndubisi Igbo, NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER Correspondent gathered in Owerri on Wednesday evening, was one of the prominent citizens and leading light of his Izombe community. He was said to have been engaged in elaborate philanthropic gestures in Izombe which has helped to lift some of the youths and rural community members out of poverty.
Dependable family source at Izombe also confirmed to NEWSLEADER Correspondent that Mr Igbo, had, indeed been ailing in the past few years owing to some alleged terminal health challenges.
Mr Donald Igbo served as a Deputy Accountant-General in Imo state during the Ikedi Ohakim administration where he was said to have played a key role in the management of the finances of the state government. He also served under the administration of Senator Rochas Okorocha, who, at a point in the first tenure of his administration, sacked Mr Igbo allegedly over some unexplained "official issues".
He was allegedly brought back to his former position in the civil service in 2019 by the PDP administration of former governor Emeka Ihedioha as Accountant-General after the incumbent at the time was shooed out of his job by the State Government over some alleged differences.
But Mr Donald Igbo's era on the job was however short-lived, as he was again suspended from his job in early 2020 by the incumbent governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, over the alleged issue of Imo state Pensioner's retirement benefits and demand for payment. The governor subsequently appointed Obieze Chukwukama to take over from him.
While in suspension, however, the Imo government, it was learnt, announced the retirement of Mr Igbo from service in 2021. He was described by friends and acquaintances as a gentleman. Mr Igbo was said to have gone into full time business since his retirement and specifically into real estate. He was also engaged in the church ministry activities being a Deacon in the Assemblies of God Church. His stupendous real estate property business is said to spread across Owerri, Abuja and Port Harcourt, just to mention a few. NNL.
