30th June, 2013
Nigeria lawmakers are mourning the passage of Senator Pius Ewherido, a member representing Delta Central Senatorial District in the Senate, the upper chamber of National Assembly who died Sunday evening.
Reports indicated that the 50 year old Senator died while on admission at National Hospital, Abuja.
He was taken to the hospital after he collapsed last Friday afternoon.
It was suspected that he suffered stroke.
It was gathered that arrangements were in top gear to evacuate the Senator to a hospital in Germany before he suddenly collapsed and eventually gave up the ghost on Sunday.
Meanwhile tributes are already pouring for the late Senator.
Senator David Mark, the President of the Senate who was in Accra, Ghana for a golf tournament, but cut short his journey on receiving the news of Ewherido’s death described the late senator as a forthright, vibrant parliamentarian and a hardworking senator.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Kola Ologbondiyan, on his behalf in Abuja, Senator Mark noted that Ewherido had within his short but eventful membership of the Senate displayed patriotism, commitment and truly distinguished himself as a parliamentarian of a “very high standard.”
He added that one of late Ewherido’s bills on how to address the issue of manslaughter in the land was currently undergoing thorough legislative work.
While promising that the Senate will take all necessary actions to ensure that the immediate family of the deceased did not suffer, Senator Mark condoled the government and people of Delta, especially the bereaved family, to take solace in the fact that the late senator lived an accomplished life worthy of emulation.
President Goodluck Jonathan also expressed shock and sadness at the news of the passing away of the Senator.
A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati stated that the President, on behalf of himself and all members of the executive arm of the Federal Government, extended their heartfelt condolences to Ewherido’s family, the Senate President, Senator David Mark and all of the late Senator’s colleagues in the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
“He was an inspirational member of Great Ife Alumni. I remember him as a committed and passionate person committed to contributing towards the attainment of a better society. He believed in lighting the candle instead of cursing the darkness. May the angels lead him to paradise to join the Saints Triumphant,” Wole Olaoye, a former President of Obafemi Awolowo University Alumni Association said in his tribute to the late Senator.