Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, on Sunday, alongside senior citizens of the state, graced the 80th birthday of Bayelsa-born Industrialist, Chief Ephraim Fagha-Faloughi.
The celebration, which had in attendance captains of industry, royal fathers, Ijaw leaders, top government functionaries and friends and family members of the business mogul, was held at the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall in Yenagoa.
Governor Diri, in his remarks, eulogised the octogenarian for his giant strides in business dating back to the 1970s and still thriving across the country.
The governor described Dr. Faloughi as an Ijaw patriot, who was not only involved in the Bayelsa State creation effort but also invested in the state as well as being part of positive developments concerning the Ijaw ethnic nationality.
He also stated that the octogenarian was an asset that the state was proud of for his support and immense contribution to the growth of Bayelsa.
He said: “I feel very elated that we are celebrating the living and not the dead. Today will go down in the history of this state that we gathered to celebrate the life of our elder and leader, who has been involved in virtually everything concerning the Ijaw nation and indeed in the creation of Bayelsa State.
“He put in all that he could to ensure this state was created and upon creation, he came in and invested. One of the oldest hotels in the state, Brass Suites, is Chief Faloughi’s handiwork.”
The Bayelsa helmsman averred that Faloughi, whose mother is from Brass local government area in the state, was fully Ijaw despite having a Lebanese father as the Ijaw culture was equally matrilineal.
Chairman of the event and immediate past Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah (rtd), described the 80th birthday gathering as a celebration of life’s achievements, which began with a lecture and dinner attended by the Governor of Osun State, Prince Ademola Adeleke.
Rear Admiral John-Jonah said Faloughi’s achievements did not come cheap as he worked hard from the scratch.
Also, the pioneer Pro Chancellor, Federal University, Akure and current Pro Chancellor of the Bayelsa Medical University, Amb. Boladei Igali, paid glowing tributes to the octogenarian whom he described as one with the purest of heart and who had rendered service to the country and qualified as one of the finest gentlemen in Nigeria.
Ambassador Igali noted that Faloughi chose to bear the green-white-green flag of Nigeria because he saw the potential in the land and that his investments were evidence of his dream to remain a Nigerian.
Responding, Dr. Faloughi said after criss-crossing the length and breadth of the world, he realised that home was home and that Governor Diri was instrumental to his decision to retire back home because of the enormous peace he has attracted to the state.
