DESERVED HONOURS TO A NATIONAL HERO: AMBASSADOR DR. GODKNOWS BOLADEI IGALI LEADS THE NIGER DELTA IN CELEBRATING CHIEF A.K. HORSFALL

​By Dave Ikiedei Asei | Wisdom Tide News | September 22, 2026

​Leadership is not merely defined by titles or offices held; it is revealed in moments that call for unity, honour, and the preservation of a people's collective heritage. On Sunday, 20th September 2026, the streets of Ikoyi, Lagos, witnessed a profound demonstration of this leadership as Ambassador Dr. Godknows Boladei Igali, OON, National Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), led a high-level delegation of South-South leaders on a solidarity and condolence visit to the family of the late national elder statesman, Chief Albert Korbo Horsfall, CON.

​Under the visionary guidance of Ambassador Igali, a diplomat and administrator who continues to carry the aspirations and burdens of the Niger Delta people on his shoulders, the visit transformed a moment of grief into a vibrant celebration of national service and regional pride. Amb. Igali mobilized over 170 prominent leaders spanning key socio-cultural organizations, including PANDEF, the Ijaw National Congress (INC), the Ijaw Monitoring Group (IMG), and the Ijaw Women’s Association. Adorned in the rich, colorful attire of the South-South, the delegation reflected the unity and strength that Amb. Igali has consistently fostered across ethnic lines.

​Joined by frontline figures such as Super Comrade Joseph Evah (Chairman of INC Lagos) and the Chairman of PANDEF Lagos, the delegation danced through the streets of Ikoyi to pay homage to a titan who served Nigeria at the highest levels. The parade was a testament to Amb. Igali’s deep conviction that the heroes who laid the groundwork for the Niger Delta’s development must never be forgotten.

​The late Chief A.K. Horsfall, who passed away on 9th September 2026 at the age of 84, was a figure of monumental historic proportions. As the pioneer Director-General of both the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Chief Horsfall anchored the nation’s security architecture during crucial transitions. Yet, to the people of the Niger Delta, his legacy lies even closer to home: as the pioneer Chairman of the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC) and pioneer Special Adviser on the Niger Delta to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, he laid the foundation for interventionist policy and peacebuilding in the region. He was also a respected traditional ruler in the Kalabari Kingdom of Rivers State, holding the traditional title of Chief Umekwe (Naval Field Marshal).

​Receiving the delegation at the Horsfall residence in Ikoyi were the late statesman’s first son, Mr. Sekuro Horsfall, his brother, Chief Donald Horsfall, and other members of the distinguished Horsfall family of Buguma, Kalabari Kingdom. They expressed immense gratitude for the overwhelming show of love, hospitality, and solidarity organized under Amb. Igali’s leadership.

​Throughout the gathering, leaders took turns extolling Chief Horsfall’s towering contributions to state-building, national security, and the political evolution of Nigeria. Beyond honoring the dead, however, the event underscored the rising stature of Ambassador Dr. Godknows Boladei Igali as the unifying pillar of the Niger Delta.

​In an era demanding selfless advocacy, strategic diplomacy, and genuine empathy, Amb. Igali continues to stand in the gap for his people. By gathering the region's elite and grassroots champions to celebrate a fallen giant, Igali re-affirmed his role as a statesman carrying the burden of his people with grace, duty, and courage—ensuring that the Niger Delta honors its past while resolutely building its future.