High-profile businessman, politician and philanthropist, Mr Keniebi Okoko, has died in a Lagos hospital after a failed surgery. He was aged only 42.

Okoko, who was a candidate in the last governorship primary of  the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State was confirmed dead by a private hospital, The Amethyst Health Care and Diagnostic Ltd at Lekki, Lagos due to it described as hypoxia. Hypoxia is the absence of  sufficient oxygen in the tissues to sustain bodily functions.

His death came only a few days after he made a donation of several items including bags of rice to his kinsmen at Obunagha Community of Bayelsa State as palliative for the lockdown of the state to curb the spread COVID-19 infections.

Some sources allege the surgery failed following an alleged power failure in the hospital followed by the failure of the generating set while the procedure was still ongoing, leading to hypoxia and cardiac arrest.

A renowned entrepreneur and industrialist, late Keniebi Okoko was the  Chief Executive Officer of  KDI Engineering and several other companies.

There was jubilation in Port Harcourt and Yenagoa  by many people of Ijaw extraction following a rumour on Tuesday evening which countered the earlier news of his death . The rumour had it that he was still  alive at the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital.

Many people in his community took to the streets, dancing excitedly that their illustrious son and benefactor was still alive. Alas! The confirmation of his death some hours later sent the people back into mourning.

Keniebi Okoko was a trained economist and a graduate of the University of Port Harcourt. He earned another degree in Political Science from Carlton University in Canada.

Okoko recently completed the Harvard Business School Owner President Management (OPM), Management and Leadership Program which he started in 2016.

He was the son of Professor Kimse Okoko – a highly respected academic, former Pro Chancellor of the University of Uyo and former President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC).