SENATE yesterday adjourned sitting
till today to honour the late Senator
Uche Chukwumerije.
Before the adjournment, the Senate
observed a minute silence in honour
of the deceased, who died on Sunday,
April 19 at the age of 75.
Senate President, David Mark, in
his tribute, said Chukwumerije was a
great Nigerian who would be greatly
missed by the National Assembly
and all Nigerians.
He further said the late Senator
would be remembered for “his
ability to speak the truth at all times.
Even when he is of the minority side,
he will still stand by the truth.’’
Mark later paid a condolence visit
in the company of other lawmakers
to the family of the deceased in his
Abuja residence.
He said that Chukwumerije should
not be seen only as a regional leader
but as a national leader who deserved
a befitting burial.
Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba,
said the deceased was a patriot, who
loved Nigeria and the institution of
the National Assembly, which he
upheld as symbol of democracy.
He further said that Chukwumerije
was given to details and stern in his
beliefs.
“For me, it is a sense of personal
loss because for almost eight years,
he sat directly behind me and
that offered us an opportunity for
interaction.
“He will be missed because he
was iconic, eclectic and an unusual
Nigerian.
“ For him, integrity was more
important than material acquisition.
He was more concerned about
his place in history and not about
primitive accumulation,’’ Ndoma-
Egba said.
He eulogized Chukwumerije for
performing excellently as Chairman,
Senate Committee on Education,
adding that “ he brought a lot of
education-related bills.”
Similarly, Senate Chairman on
Rules and Business, Ita Enang,
said Chukwumerije would be
remembered for his strength of
character, honesty and discipline.
“One thing I appreciate and know
about him is his strength of character.
In the Senate, when the principal
officers are processing in with the
Mace, senators will lineup to shake
the hands of principal officers.
“Senator Chukwumerije believed
that it was wrong and he would never
come out because he believed that
we must stand at our respective
seats, while the Mace ought to
proceed in decorum,’’ he said.
Also, Sen. Kabiru Gaya (APCKano
South) said the late Senator
left an indelible mark and would
be remembered for his outstanding
performance as a ranking senator.
According to him, “it is
unfortunate, I lost a friend and
he was a Kano man. He was very
close to the late Malam Aminu
Kano and that is why he always
dressed like him.
“It may be difficult for our legs
to fit into his shoes because of his
outstanding performance when he
was alive.
“He was a stabilising factor and
at a point when he talked he was
reminded that he was talking in
support of the opposition because
he talked frankly,’’ he said.
Chukwumerije, who died of
lung cancer at a Turkish Hospital
in Abuja, was a ranking senator
representing Abia North Senatorial
District.
He was a graduate of Economics
and worked as a journalist and
Minister of Information under
Gen. Ibrahim Babangida
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Senate adjourns in honour of Chukwumerije
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