The Nigerian Senate on Thursday abruptly adjourned plenary over the passing away of the Senator representing Imo North, Benjamin Uwajumogu, who died on Wednesday, 18th December 2019.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the adjournment followed a motion moved by Senate Leader, Senator Abdullahi Yahaya, and seconded by Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe.
Senate President, Ahmad Lawan led the Principal Officers into the chambers, took the official prayers, began the day’s proceedings at 10:50am, moved into an Executive Session at 10:53am and resumed from its Executive Session at 11:05am before the Senate Leader cited Order 43 and officially informed the Senate on the passing away of Senator Uwajumogu.
Senate observed a minute silence in honor of of the colleague, suspended plenary and other legislative activities today, and suspended Order 13 to enable the Senate hold its plenary tomorrow Friday, 20th December 2019.
Meanwhile, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has expressed shock and sadness over the death of Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu.
Senator Uwajumogu who contributed to debates during the Senate’s plenary session on Tuesday passed away on Wednesday morning.
In a statement issued by Senator Omo-Agege’s Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Mr. Yomi Odunuga, he sympathized with the late Senator’s family and the people he represented.
“His death is a matter of deep personal loss for me. My dear friend representing Imo North Senatorial District in the 9th Senate, Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu, a co-member of the APC which he was helping to entrench in the South East, died as an intellectual, a political giant, a successful businessman and a philanthropist par excellence.
“He was a devout Christian who passionately shared in our party’s vision for reforms and populist development that can positively impact on many lives now and in the future.
“He lived and died as a great ambassador of the Uwajumogu family of Umuihi-Ihitte/ Uboma LGA in Okigwe zone of Imo State to the world. At the age of 25 in 1990, he was the pioneer Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in his local government area and in 2011, he became Speaker of Imo state House of Assembly.
“The practical application of his studies in the USA and France, along with his good works were part of what culminated into his being given the “Industrialist of the Year, 2000” award by the Abia State Chapter of the Nigeria Chamber of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Guardian Newspaper’s ‘Integrity and Credibility’ award and the ‘Paul Harris Fellow’ award by the Rotary Club International, Enugu District.
“More importantly, he was a good family man and I pray that God grants his wife, Eileen and children the strength to bear such irreparable loss ,” Senator Omo-Agege stated.