JULY 2, 2013
Senator Ewherido
President of the Senate, David Mark, has said the Senate will suspend Tuesday’s plenary session as a mark of respect for the late Senator Pius Ewherido, who died on Sunday in Abuja.
Mark gave the hint on Monday when he led the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, and other senators to the residence of the late Ewherido in Asokoro, Abuja.
While consoling the deceased’s wife, Doye, he said, “In line with our tradition and as a mark of respect for our departed colleague, the Senate will suspend plenary tomorrow (today).
“We share in your bereavement, pains and sorrows at this moment of grief.”
Mark also urged members of the Ewherido’s family to continue to have faith in God, noting that death always subject believers’ faith in God to test.
“As Catholics, it is easy to say the Creed that I believe in God, the Maker of Heaven and Earth. But when death comes, we question God. This is the time to increase our faith in God.
“If there was anything we could have done to save the life of our distinguished colleague, we would have done it but the Lord owns his life,” he counselled.
Also extolling the virtues of the late Ewherido, Uduaghan described the late senator as “a strong voice from Delta.”
He said Ewherido was an experienced lawmaker, having been a deputy speaker and later an acting speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly.
“In the last two years, he has brought this experience to bear on the floor of the Senate. We have lost a strong voice in Delta,” he said.
Receiving the delegation, the elder brother of the late senator, Rev. Fr. Anthony Ewherido, expressed the family’s gratitude to the President of the Senate, Uduaghan and senators across party lines for standing by them.
He said, “He was your distinguished colleague. I have always been proud of him but I am more proud of him in death.”
Similarly, the Leader of the Senate, Victor Ndoma-Egba, said on Monday that Ewherido’s death was a great pain and shock.
He said, “Senator Ewherido was the quintessential legislator, who was cerebral, insightful, clear in language and thought. He had the courage of his convictions and had an excellent grasp of legislative practice, drawing from his experience as Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly and natural endowments.”
Also, the member representing Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, Ndudi Elumelu, described as sad and deeply shocking the sudden death of Ewherido.
Meanwhile, the Action Congress of Nigeria described as a great national loss the death of Ewherido, who passed away at the National Hospital in Abuja on Sunday.
In a statement in Lagos on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party commiserated with the family of the senator, his constituency in the Delta Central Senatorial District, as well as the entire Senate over his untimely demise
It said the death of such a man of sterling achievements at a tender age of only 50 was a big blow to all, adding that he would be sorely missed.
Also, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum described Ewherido’s death as painful.
The governors, in a statement by their Chairman, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State in Abuja on Monday, said it was unfortunate that the senator, who they described as hardworking, could die when his services were more needed in the country.
The statement read, “We hereby condole with the Nigerian Senate, the government and people of Delta State and the entire Ewherido family over the sudden death of Senator Pius Ewherido, who, until his death, represented Delta Central Senatorial District on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.
“It is unfortunate that the hardworking, independent-minded senator, a political icon, and one of the most accomplished politicians in our country passed on at a time our country needed his invaluable service most. His loss is no doubt a monumental loss to our nation.
“Senator Ewherido’s departure is both painful and shocking. But we take solace in the fact that he lived and died well.”
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