Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Former Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Chief Eugene Odo has described late Sen. Ayogu Eze as a selfless leader who contributed his best in the development of the state and Nigeria.
Odo made the tribute in an interview with newsmen in Enugu on Friday. The former senator died in an Abuja hospital on Thursday after a brief illness at the age of 66.
The former Speaker described the late senator as a “man who had the interest of his people at heart.”
Odo said that as Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and Works, Eze facilitated the employment of many youths in his senatorial district in the federal civil service.
“Sen. Eze gave 115 people in the zone employment in various federal civil service parastatals such as Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), Voice of Nigeria (VON), Federal Radio Cooperation of Nigeria (FRCN) among others.
“As Chairman, House Committee on Works, he attracted several developmental projects in the Enugu North senatorial district,” Odo said.
He said that late Eze attracted FRCN in Nsukka and also attracted the erection of the building, dug many boreholes across the zone and several other developmental projects.
In the same vein, the member representing Igbo-Eze South Constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly, Mr Harrison Ogara, described the death of late Sen. Ayogu Eze as a “colossal loss to Enugu State.”
According to Ogara, the former Senator who represented Enugu North Senatorial District at the National Assembly, was a perfect gentleman and a fine journalist.
Ogara said that he was shocked with the news, revealing that the late senator died of undisclosed ailments.
He noted that as a journalist, who worked with The Guardian Newspapers, the late Eze tutored and paved the way for others, including him, to venture into the world of journalism.
While extolling Ayogu for his vibrant representation of the district at the National Assembly, Ogara prayed God to grant his soul eternal rest.
In his reaction, the member representing Oji-River Constituency, Mr Osita Eze, said that late Ayogu will be remembered for his contribution to the development of Enugu State.
According to Eze, the late senator used his wealth of experience to serve the people of the state in different positions.
He urged other politicians to be mindful of the kind of life they lived, especially when they were in the position of authority, as they would be remembered by their actions and inactions.
Late Eze served in various capacities which include former commissioner for information, Culture and Tourism as well as Special Adviser to Gov Chimaraoke Nnamani on Public Affairs.