July 29, (THEWILL) – Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, serving Senators from the State and outside the State, and former governors of the State, on Friday, bade farewell to Senator Anyim Ude, who represented Ebonyi South zone at the Senate between 2007 and 2011.
Ude, a veteran journalist, ace broadcaster and former commissioner in the State, died at 82 on May 15, 2023.
He was buried in his Iyioji Akaeze hometown, Ivo Local Government Area of the Eboyin State.
Akpabio, who was represented by former Governor David Umahi, said the late Ude left indelible legacies that would be difficult to fill. He said that the ninth Senate honoured Ude and the 10th session honoured him three times.
“When his achievements and character were read on the floor of the Senate, everyone stood still,” he stated.
He noted that when character is lost, everything is lost but money, health and others can be replaced.
Ebonyi State Governor, Rt. Hon Francis Nwifuru, specially commended the deceased’s wife for taking care of him while alive.
“Any woman who takes care of her husband up till 80 years of age should be commended, especially when it involves only one wife,” he said.
He assured the family that the State Government will always support the family, adding that the Government will also donate N15 million to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, which he built, for renovations.
His Eminence, Ekpeyong Akpanika, Prelate and Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, urged leaders to emulate the virtues of the deceased and realise that wealth ends on earth.
“Nigerians are currently suffering as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy and the leaders can provide free transportation to cushion the effects,” he said.
The burial was witnessed by a large crowd of dignitaries and well-wishers from across the country and beyond including former governors, Martin Elechi and Sam Egwu, who eulogised the veteran journalist.
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Sunday Ogbu is a professional journalist with eight - twelve years experience that had worked with various print and online media. Sunday specializes in news reporting with the aim of educating his readers on current social, political and economic occurences within his area of coverage. Sunday is a strong force to work with in the media industry and uses his positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed. Sunday is inspired daily by his wife and their four children. In his free time, Sunday likes sight-seeing, reading and discussing issues of societal interest.
