By John Ugo, Kamsi Anayo, Awka
Members of the Anambra state House of Assembly, Governor Charles Soludo, family members, friends and residents of the state on Wednesday expressed shock over reports about the sudden death of the Majority Leader of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Nnamdi Okafor.
Okafor, a Pharmacist had slumped and died in South Africa two days ago.
He was among fellow lawmakers on a retreat to South Africa.
Some of the lawmakers contacted for comments on the fate of late Okafor were short of words over the tragic incident.
Also, Governor of the state, Professor Charles Soludo expressed shock over the death of Dr. Nnamdi Okafor.
At the family house of late Majority Leader at Umuzocha community in Awka South Local Government Area of the state, the relations, people and residents wore mournful looks and lacking words to express the sudden and unfortunate incident that befell them.
The gigantic pharmaceutical complex known as ‘We Care’ building belonging to the deceased and located along the busy Ziks Avenue road leading to popular Eke Awka Market, was deserted and under lock and key.
The Anambra Assembly has described as “rude shock” the death of its Majority Leader, Dr. Nnamdi Okafor who was representing Awka South One Constituency.
The Speaker, Hon. Uche Okafor in a statement on Wednesday signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Emma Madu said “the news of the death of the lawmaker came to us as a rude shock.
He also described the death of the Majority Leader as a great loss to the state legislative, Awka Community and the state at large.
The Speaker noted that the late Okafor was a knowledgeable and active legislator whose contributions both in the legislature and in his constituency distinguished him among his contemporaries.
He said that the state assembly had lost a great, erudite and eloquent lawmaker, adding that the deceased short but eventful life and times are worthy of emulation.
“On behalf of the state lawmakers and the entire legislature, I commiserate with his wife and the entire family and prayed God to grant his soul to eternal repose.
“The cause of late Okafor death is yet to be ascertained as we await the autopsy result,” the speaker said.
The Deputy Speaker of the legislature, Mr Paschal Agbodike said, “I am in a meeting now and I cannot talk to you at the moment.”
On his part, Governor Charles Soludo in a statement by his Press Secretary, Mr. Christian Aburime described the death of Hon. Okafor as shocking.
Soludo said, “It is shocking that the State Assembly lost another lawmaker to the cold hands of death, coming barely three months after the demise of the lawmaker representing Aguata Two Constituency, Hon. Okechukwu Okoye”.
He noted that, “Dr. Nnamdi Okafor was an active participant at the 7th Assembly who devoted his time and energy to represent his constituency. He’ll be sorely missed”.
According to the statement “On behalf of Anambra State Government, may I use this medium to convey my sympathy to those he left behind, including his family, Awka Constituency One and Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uche Okafor as well as other lawmakers. Indeed, life is ephemeral. May the living continue to reflect on the essence of life and live for the good of the society like Dr. Okafor did”.
Similarly, the Anambra State House of Assembly confirmed that the majority leader slumped and died in South Africa
Mr. Emma Madu, the SSA/Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, in a statement on Wednesday said the cause of his death is yet to be ascertained as an autopsy result is awaited.
The death of the Majority Leader of the state legislature, has brought to three the number of lawmakers who have died.
These are the lawmaker that represented Onitsha South 2, Mr Patrick Aniuno, who was the house committee chairman on Information, Mr Okey Okoye of Aguata 2 Constituency who later replaced Aniuno as Committee Chairman on Information and now Dr. Nnamdi Okafor who represented Awka South 1 Constituency.
