Second Republic’ Senator Afegbua dies at 79

The Afegbua family in Edo State has announced the death of Second Republic’s only woman senator, Franca Afegbua.

Its statement yesterday reads: “The Afegbua family of Edo State has confirmed the demise of the first woman senator in Nigeria, Senator Franca Afegbua, whose sad event occurred this morning, Sunday, March 12, 2023. She combined beauty and brain during her service to Nigeria. Funeral details will be announced by the family soon.”

The late Afegbua was elected the senator representing Bendel North in October 1983 on the platform of defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the Second Republic.

She was a native of Okpella, a town in Etsako East Local Government Area of old Bendel State, now split into Edo and Delta states.

Her political journey was, however, cut short as the military coup of December 1983 toppled the civilian government less than three months after she assumed office.

Also, the National Vice President of the apex Igbo cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene, has urged female legislators, especially Federal lawmakers, to emulate the late Senator Afegbua’s legislative skills.

Okeke-Ogene said this while reacting to the death of the erstwhile senator yesterday.

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo chief described Afegbua’s death as a great loss, especially to female legislators who could have learnt from her expertise as the first woman senator in Nigeria.

He noted that the deceased was a combination of beauty and brain during her service to Nigeria as a senator.

Okeke-Ogene also described the late Afegbua as his personal friend, adding that she would be sorely missed and remembered for her great personality.