Pastor Aginighan and son die in auto accident

An accident which occurred yesterday at Mbiama end of the East-West expressway, reportedly claimed the lives of Pastor Power Aginighan, a former Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission and his son, Anthony.It was also gathered that the Delta State APC chieftain’s vehicle and a Hilux van was crushed around 2pm, by a truck in the accident which also killed his police escort.

Pastor Power Ziakede Aginighan who died in the accident yesterday was born on January 9, 1959 at Ezebri Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, PZ, as he is fondly called by his admirers had his early education at Local Authority Primary School, Oge-Eze (1965 – 1970), Saint Vincent’s College, Okwagbe (1971 – 1972) and Government College, Bomadi (1973 – 1975) where he doubled as the best essayist and best Mathematics student in his final year, a rare feat by any student.After a stint as an auxiliary Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology and Integrated Science teacher in then Sagbama Creek Grammar School, Toru Ebeni, and later in his alma-mater, Government College, Bomadi, Aginighan proceeded to University (then college) of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt in 1977 where he bagged the Higher National Diploma in Accountancy in 1981. he also holds the Bachelor of Science in Accountancy as well as a Masters in Business Administration from the same University. He is an associate member of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, (ANAN) as well as Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM).

Aginighan started his public service career shortly after completing his National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, and assignment in the old Anambra State in August 1982 with his appointment as Accountant II at the College of Education, Warri, from where he rose to the position of Principle Accountant. He later joined the Oil Mineral Producing Area Development Commission, OMPADEC, as Assistant Director of Finance and Accounts in April 1993, a position he held until 2001 when he was absorbed by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. He was later promoted to the position of Deputy Director, Finance and Supply in March 2003. He was appointed Ag. Executive Director, Finance and Administration, NDDC on the 28th of May 2007.

Aginighan has also paid his dues in the struggle for better living conditions for the Niger Delta people. He served in various leadership positions in various organizations committed to improving the quality of life of the peoples of Niger Delta and Nigeria in general. He was Director-General of the Ijaw Youths Action League (1980-1983), Secretary of the Ijaw Community Warri (1985-1991), Secretary Delta Ijaw Consultative Committee headed by the Late Chief F.H.E. Brisibe, AIG rtd OFR, moderator of the AII-Ijaw National Convention held at Patani on the 23rd November, 1991 presided over by Chief F.H.E. Brisibe, OFR with Chief Dr. Harold Dappa Biriye and Chief George Albert Weikezi in attendance, appointed Secretary of the Professor C.A. Dime-led Ijaw National Coordinating Committee (INCC) which mid-wifed the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and served as the 1st Secretary of the Ijaw National Congress. He also served in various peace panels under leaders like Chief Dr. EK Clark, OFR, Senator Amatari Zuofa and Dr. Gabriel Okara.