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The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Senator Okechukwu Ezea, who represented Enugu North, noting that death has been particularly unkind to the 10th Senate.
Akpabio spoke at a tribute night held in honour of the late senator at the National Ecumenical Centre, Abuja, on Tuesday.
Highlighting the heavy toll on the Senate, Akpabio recalled that three serving senators have died in quick succession over the past two years: Senator Ifianyi Ubah (Anambra South), Godiya Akwashiki (Nasarawa), and now Senator Ezea.
“The last two years have been particularly heavy for us in the Senate. We have lost colleagues in quick succession men of intellect, courage and vision.
“Each loss reminds us of our own mortality and the urgency of service,” he said.
He added, “Just days to the New Year, and only hours before the clock would usher in another chapter, death paid another painful visit.
“It was a cruel reminder that time does not wait for any man… History teaches us that what truly endures is not power, position, or wealth, but love, compassion, and the good we do for others.
“Politics must never make us lose our humanity.”
Senator Nenadi Usman, Interim National Chairman of the Labour Party, described Ezea as a principled politician loyal to his party until his death.
“Despite pressures from various quarters, he remained committed to the Labour Party on whose platform he was elected… Until his passing, he remained the only Labour Party member in the National Assembly from Enugu State who, on principle, kept faith with the party that entrusted him with that mandate,” she said.
She also noted that Ezea’s loyalty to the party predated the 2023 elections and recalled his 2007 gubernatorial candidacy under the Labour Party, which showcased his political strength.
Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi offered condolences to the senator’s family, friends, and colleagues, encouraging them to find comfort in the legacy he left behind.
The tribute event was attended by notable figures, including former Senate President Ken Nnamani, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Senator Victor Umeh, and former VON Director General Osita Okechukwu, among others.
‘Last two years have been heavy for us in the Senate’ – Akpabio
