Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, on Wednesday
described the death of Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu as a big loss to the ninth
National Assembly.
The National Assembly may also today suspend
plenary over the demise of the ranking senator, whose sudden death occurred at
his Abuja residence yesterday.
This is just as some senators yesterday mourned the
death of their colleague representing the Imo North senatorial district.
A statement issued on behalf of the Senate president
by his Media Adviser, Ola Awoniyi, said Senator Uwajumogu's sudden death is
shocking and a painful loss to the ninth National Assembly "where he
always made robust contributions to the debates and other activities of the upper
legislative chamber. He will be greatly missed by all of us his colleagues and
staff of the Senate."
He expressed shock and sadness over the tragic news
of the death of Uwajumogu.
While commiserating with the family of the deceased
Senator and the government and people of Imo State over the tragic loss, Lawan
also recalled that Uwajumogu was full of life at the Senate Chamber last
Tuesday, which made the news of his death even more difficult to take.
According to him, "God gives and takes in line
with his supreme sovereignty, so we cannot question His will but only to pray that
God Almighty will comfort his loved ones and grant them the fortitude to bear
the loss.
The National Assembly which is expected to proceed
on Christmas break today may however not hold plenary in the two chambers as a
mark of respect for late Senator Uwajumogu, who until his death, was Chairman
of the Senate Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity.
The two chambers may only sit briefly to take vote
and proceedings of yesterday’s plenary before the Senate and House Leaders will
formally announce the senator's death, and in line with the tradition of the
Assembly, call for the suspension of plenary for the day.
Meanwhile, some senators, upon hearing the news of
the death of their colleague, who was said to have been ill for some time
yesterday, expressed sadness over his untimely death.
Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe,
described the death of Senator Uwajumogu as a huge loss to Nigeria, his
constituents and in particular Imo State.
"I am
saddened by his death. It is very sad that he died at this time. Ben was simply
a good fellow, an erudite legislator, a fine gentleman, a loving husband and
father. He is indeed a Senator of Nigeria, and very patriotic. He straddled the
Senate isles beyond partisan inclinations. We shall sorely miss him,"
Abaribe said.
On his part, former Senate Leader, Senator Ali
Ndume, described as shocking the news of his colleague's death.
Ndume said he was personally touched by Uwajumogu's
demise because he had developed personal relationship with him since their days
in the eighth Senate.
"He
came in when I was the Senate Leader in the eighth Senate, and we developed an
interpersonal relationship. He was a gentle fellow, humble and will be sorely
missed.
According to him, his constituents in Imo North
where he rose through the ranks politically to become a senator will also miss
him as well as the National Assembly.
Also reacting, Senator Smart Adeyemi said the country
would miss the valuable contributions of the late senator to the country's
political development.
He said with the little relationship he had with
Uwajumogu as a senator, "he was a forthright Senator who was so concerned
about the wellbeing of his constituents
in Imo North as well as other Nigerians."
Senator Elisha Abbo, in his reaction, said: “I can
confirm that my colleague and brother Ben Uwajumogu has left us to be with the
Lord, and this calls for sober reflection.
“It is a clear indication that this world is like a
market place, and when you come you will go back home. Ben has come to the
market place; he has behaved well and gone back to account for his good deeds
on earth. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
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