Dan Orbih: The Warrior Who Never Left the Battlefield

Daniel Osi Orbih built his political reputation by refusing to let Nigeria’s opposition politics become a quiet retreat. Known as Kulukulu 1, Orbih died on Monday, August 31, at 64. His family announced the death without giving a cause. He is survived by his wife, Florence, his daughters Winifred Anwosiobor and Mildred Omonemi, siblings and members of the wider Orbih family.

Although Orbih became closely identified with the Peoples Democratic Party, his political career began in the All Peoples Party. During Nigeria’s transition to civil rule, he served as running mate to Lucky Imasuen, the APP candidate in the 1999 Edo governorship election. He later moved into the PDP and rose under the influence of Tony Anenih, the party strategist. In 2008, Orbih became leader of the PDP’s Edo chapter.

For about 12 years, he remained the face and voice of a party that had lost control of the state to Adams Oshiomhole. Orbih and Oshiomhole came from the same Etsako axis and had once been close enough for their families to exchange holiday visits. Politics turned them into formidable opponents. Orbih told the author that their earlier relationship had been close, but he became one of Oshiomhole’s most persistent political challengers.

His method often relied on records. In one confrontation, Orbih produced an affidavit and other documents while questioning conflicting public references to Oshiomhole’s year of birth. The governor’s camp said the discrepancy came from an error in a birthday brochure. In a more damaging episode, Orbih obtained a video of Oshiomhole telling widow and street trader Joy Ifijeh to “go and die” after the governor was recorded making the remark in 2013. Orbih and the Edo PDP then publicized the footage aggressively, turning the incident into a major political weapon.

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go and die