Ndoma-Egba pays tribute to late Senator Ayogu Eze
Former Senate Leader and ex-Board Chairman of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, has described the late Senator Ayogu Eze as a man of integrity who lived a fulfilled life and dedicated his time on earth to the service of God, humanity and Nigeria.
Senator Eze, a highly respected and popular politician from Enugu State served as the senator representing Enugu North Senatorial District in the 6th and 7th Senate when Ndoma-Egba was the senator representing Cross River Central Senatorial District.
The erstwhile Enugu North Senator and one-time Enugu State Commissioner of Information died on April 25, 2024 in an Abuja hospital at the age of 65 after suffering from an ailment.
Speaking at the Night of Tributes organised as part of the burial activities for the deceased in Enugu, Ndoma-Egba who is the chairman of the Committee of Friends of Ayogu Eze across the globe, prayed for the peaceful repose of the soul of his late colleague and the fortitude for his friends and family to bear the painful and irreparable loss.
Welcoming guests including the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah and his deputy, Mr. Ifeanyi Ossai, to the event, the ex-Senate Leader, said: “Your Excellency the governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, Your Excellency the Deputy Governor, Ifeanyi Ossai, Mrs Nkechi Ayogu Eze, the immediate family, the larger family and the kindred families, friends, colleagues, well-wishers of Senator Ayogu Eze.
“On behalf of friends of Ayogu Eze and they are very many across the world. I remember when we set up a platform, ‘Friends Of Ayogu Eze’, we received protest from people across the globe that we have limited the membership of his friends to Nigeria, that Ayogu has friends all over the world.
“So on behalf of all of those friends, I welcome you all to this very solemn ceremony which is part of the farewell rites for our brother and friend, Ayogu Eze.
“At times like this we ask the question, when is the best time to die? When is the best time to die? I will attempt an answer very shortly. At one point or the other in our lives, each and every one of us will just become a collection of memories. So for Nkechi Ayogu Eze and the family we pray that your memory of your dear husband, your father will be fond memories. To his friends, his colleagues, we also pray that we will be consoled by those moments of laughter that we all shared.
“As we bid Ayogu farewell, let us console ourselves that the best time to die is when we die. There is no better time to die than when we die.
“Like the bible says, there is a time for everything. A time to be born and a time to die. Ayogu has had his time to be born and now is his time to die. It is not the length of our lives that matter, but the quality of our lives. It is not the length of our days, but the life in those days. Ayogu had life in everyday of his life. He has played his part. He has earned the crown and has taken his place with his Maker whom he served very faithfully while on this mortal plane.”
While specifically thanking Governor Mbah for the great love and concern he has shown since the demise of Senator Eze, Ndoma-Egba, added: “I am aware that his Excellency has done so much for this burial. Even as friends of Ayogu Eze, he was present through his Deputy at virtually all our meetings. Your Excellency, friends of Ayogu Eze in Nigeria and across the world thank you for your sympathy and for your empathy. We thank you for dignifying this event with your presence. God will bless you. God will elevate you more and more.”
The remains of the late senator who until his death was the representative of Enugu State at the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) will be laid to rest tomorrow Friday, June 14 at his country home, Umuida, Igboeze North Local Government Area.
A Service Songs in honour of the late ex-Senate spokesman was held last week Friday in Abuja with prominent Nigerians in attendance.
