Godswill Akpabio

A delegate from the 10th Senate was led by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to visit the grieving family of their late colleague, Sen Ifeanyi Ubah who died in the UK.

Akpabio who shared his immediate reaction to the news of Senator Ubah’s sudden death, described how he was deeply shocked and emotionally shaken by the tragic news.

The Senate President made these remarks on Saturday while leading a delegation of his Senate colleagues on a condolence visit to Ubah’s widow, Uchenna, at their residence in Lagos.

In a statement released by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, Akpabio recounted, “I was jolted when I received the news of the death of a very dedicated and patriotic colleague, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah. When I received a call from Senator Mpigi that I should talk to you I never knew it was the news of Senator Ubah’s death. I was thinking of something else and even asked to speak with him not knowing that it was about his demise.

“If you could remember, I didn’t conclude the conversation with you. I threw away the phone because of the shock. We never thought Senator Ubah would die in the next 40 years, but who are we to question God?”

Akpabio described Ubah as “one of the pillars of the 10th Senate” and expressed his sorrow at not being able to continue the call after hearing the news, explaining that he was overwhelmed with grief and shock.

He apologized for not getting back to the family immediately, explaining that he was too devastated by the news.

“We learnt of your arrival in the country two days ago and so we decided to come and condole you and the children as well as other members of the family,” Akpabio said to Uchenna and her children.

Speaking to Ubah’s children, Akpabio encouraged them to honor their father’s memory. “Your father brought you to the world and handed you over to God. You have to keep the memories of your late father alive. Death can happen to anybody but my prayer is that none of us should bury our children. Be proud that you are alive to bury your father and not the other way round.”

On behalf of the 10th Senate, Akpabio assured the family of their support, stating, “We can’t question God, we can only say, it is the will of God. We wouldn’t have wished this for any of our colleagues or anyone else. We would be there with you all the way, inorder to give him a befitting burial. He left so many legacies. May his soul rest in peace and may you be strong in the Lord to take care of the children.”

Responding on behalf of the family, Prince Chidi Orizu (Capt) expressed gratitude to Akpabio and his entourage for taking the time to visit and comfort the family. He assured the Senate leadership that they would be kept informed of the burial arrangements.

Akpabio was accompanied by Senate Minority Whip Osita Ngwu, and Senators Saliu Mustapha, Sunday Karimi, and Adetokunbo Abiru.