From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Vice President Kashim Shettima has said that the late Ifeanyi Ubah’s free spirit broke down political and ethnic barriers.
According to a statement by his media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President made this remark when he joined his former colleagues in the Senate to pay glowing tributes to the late lawmaker, who passed away earlier this year.
Shettima’s tribute followed the valedictory session held at the Senate Chambers in honour of the late senator, while his remains were laid at the foyer of the White House Wing of the chambers.
Reading his tribute during the session on Tuesday, the Vice President described the late Ubah as “the youngest member of the 9th Senate and one of its brightest stars, whose age belied his political dexterity and grassroots affiliation.”
“His bridge-building capacity elevated his political journey beyond older and more established giants in the arena, and he was easily on his way to bigger conquests when the Lord called him home,” Shettima noted.
Recalling one of his encounters with the late Anambra-born senator while serving as Governor of Borno State, Shettima remembered that Ubah’s generosity “knew no bounds and his free spirit broke down political and ethnic barriers.”
While condoling the family, friends, and associates of the late lawmaker, the Vice President reminded the gathering that “death is an inevitable destiny that is hanging on everyone’s neck,” adding that “we are travellers on our journeys home, from God to God.”
Earlier in his remarks, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, announced that the day had been set aside to honour the life and times of Ubah, drawing the attention of Senators to their departed colleague’s seat, adorned with the Nigerian flag and four symbolic candles as a mark of respect.
Akpabio described the late businessman from Otolo, Nnewi North, Anambra State, as a visionary leader with extraordinary empathy for all and a champion for economic empowerment and community development.
He said that the death of Ubah has created a huge deficit in the political terrain of the country, regretting that the vacuum created will be difficult to fill.
Senators took turns during the valedictory session to pay tributes to their departed colleague, praying that God grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss.