Posted by By MOLLY KILETE. Abuja, RAZAQ BAMIDELE, Lagos on
Former Senate President, Evan Enwerem died in Abuja yesterday. He was aged 72.
•AC, Chukwumerije, Oyinlola, others mourn
Former Senate President, Evan Enwerem died in Abuja yesterday. He was aged 72.
Enwerem, who had been on admission at the National Hospital for over two weeks, was said to have died from an undisclosed ailment.
Daily Sun gathered that the former number three man, who was also a one-time governor of Imo State in the Third Republic, had been on an admission at the private wing of the hospital. His condition was said to have worsened during the week and he was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where he stayed for some days before giving up the ghost.
News of the former Senate President's death sent the nation into mourning with many Nigerians, especially members of the political class, describing it as unfortunate and a rude shock.
Senator Uche Chukwumerije described Enwerem's death as "a big loss to Imo politics in particular and Nigerian politics in general." He said his tenure as the Senate President helped to sharpen the credibility of the Nigerian constitution.
Also reacting, Senator Joseph Waku, who was the late Enwerem's campaign manager when he was to become the Senate President, said: "Nigeria has lost a great politician, patriotic Nigerian who was loved by all and sundry."
Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun State described the death as "a rude shock."
Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary (CPS) Mr Lasisi Olagunju, Oyinlola said, "Senator Enwerem would always be remembered for his immense contributions to Nigerian democracy."
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Babangida Nguroje, also expressed shock over Enwerem's death.
In a statement by his Special Assistant (Media) Hammed Bello, Nguroje prayed for the repose of the deceased, even as he prayed God to give the wife and the children the fortitude to bear the "irreparable loss."
Speaking on behalf of the Action Congress, (AC) the party's National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said, "Nigeria has lost a very fine politician" who he said "played peaceful politics during his lifetime."
Mohammed, who claimed to have worked closely with Enwerem as a young man at the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) disclosed that "He had hope for this country," lamenting: "His death was not expected now that Nigeria needs his wealth of experience."
While praying for the soul of the deceased, the spokesman of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural; and political organization, Afenifere, Mr Yinka Odumakin, said: "The former Senate President contributed his own valuable quota to the development of democracy in Nigeria. He would always be remembered for that."
Shock pervaded Owerri, the capital of his home state, Imo, with people gathering and discussing news of the death as it filtered in yesterday afternoon.
Enwerem, who emerged Senate President in controversial circumstances in 1999, eventually lost the seat in equally controversial circumstances to the late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo. He lost his senate seat in 2003 following inability to pick his party's ticket for the Owerri senatorial zone and quite significantly, the man who picked the ticket and eventually replaced him in the Senate, Ama Iwuagwu could not serve out his tenure as he died in the process.
Enwerem hail from Ikeduru Local Government area of Imo State.