Senate Holds Valedictory Session For Late Sen Ewherido

Sen Ewherido's seat at the Senate yesterday

Priced accolades and superlative words, fit only for Kings and princes were yesterday showered on Senator Akpor Pius Ewherido during the valedictory session held in his honour by the Senate. Ewherido had passed on  on June 30 at the National Hospital, Abuja, at the age of 50.

Until his death, Ewherido represented Delta Central senatorial district in the senate.

Yesterday’s valedictory session began after the corpse of the late senator was accompanied by the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, the deceased’s wife, Doye, his children as well as  some of
his friends and associates to the senate.

At the event, tributes poured in like torrents as the senators described their late colleague as a courageous, brilliant, patriotic and dedicated Nigerian who within his brief period of two years in the senate left his footprints on the sands of time.

In his tributes to the late senator, Senate President, Senator David Mark, who described Ewherido as patriotic, said “Given the level of impact that Senator Ewherido made not just in his family, hometown, constituency, state but the country at large, it is safe to say he is not dead because his legacy lives on.”

He added: “Although he was a man with exceptional achievements, he never boasted about his achievements and contributions to his  community and the society at large. He was a silent achiever who was referred to by his people as the Uloho (Iroko). He provided shelter to
many in his community, a gesture that cannot easily be forgotten. To most people from his state, he represented a unique voice of courage
and boldness.

“Senator Ewherido was a lively, calculating and focused person. I can describe him as a man  of all seasons who was always confident, vocal and comfortable in any company he found himself. His death was untimely and painful. He left his footprints on the sand of history.”

Also speaking, Senator Sola Adeyeye (Osun Central) said upon his arrival  in senate, he spotted five younger senators who looked promising and held hopes of brighter tomorrow, among whom he said was Ewherido, who according to him, possessed rich potentials and
sagacity, lamenting that if death had offered him the choice, he would have exchanged his life with that of the late senator.

He described Ewherido as a partner in progress, forthright senator who never compromised his integrity and who brought his sense of commitment, courage and dedication to bear within the last two years of his stay in the senate adding that he was a tough man who brought his toughness to bear in his activities.

In the same vein, Senator Ganiyu Solomon (Lagos Central), said his first notice of Ewherido’s presence in the chamber, was  brought about
by the brilliant contribution coming from the back, which he said prompted him to look back to catch a glimpse of such a brilliant speaker.  

According to Solomon who said death should be shamed because it could not undo the legacy that Ewherido left, added that his hope was
renewed by the fact that from his senatorial district, state and family, many more Ewheridos would arise, adding: “Death cannot take away his memory from us. We shall miss him. We shall surely miss him.”

Also eulogising Ewherido, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta North),  said: “We mourn our colleague,  friend and brother. He was peaceful but courageous. He had integrity and character. He was as resourceful as he was friendly. Although a DPP senator, he was a friend of all. He was the light through which many saw hope in the politics of Delta State.”

In the same vein, Senator Ehigie Uzamere (Edo South), said: “Ewherido was a  courageous man. He may have lived if our hospitals are not mere consulting centres. He may have lived if some of  the staff of  the hospitals are not employees of other  hospitals; he may have lived if the hospitals are well  funded. God will console the wife and family of  Ewheredo.”