The family of the Late Dr Chuba Keshi an aide to the Deputy President of the Senate, has cautioned the Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Ms Lauretta Onochie not to drag their late brother’s name into politics.
They also urged Onochie to allow their dead brother rest peacefully, noting that the use of his name to settle a political score with Senator Ovie Omo-Agege is not only distasteful but in bad faith.
Onochie had inferred in a media chat that the late Dr Chuba Keshi died due to lack of care and his inability to foot his medical treatment.
However, Dr Chuba Keshi’s family in reaction to Onochie’s the remark in a statement by Dr Onochie Keshi MD, said that the family find it offensive that the unfortunate incident of the death of their brother was dragged into any political brawl with the Deputy Senate President.
While urging Onochie to allow the family to mourn their brother with dignity and in peace, notes that they were taken aback and outraged by the disappointing outburst of Ms Onochie on the death of late Dr Chuba Keshi.
According to the family: “Our attention has just been drawn to a statement credited to one MS Lauretta Onochie on the death of our brother, Dr Chuba Keshi. We consider the use of his name for political purposes to be in bad faith.
“We are outraged by the disappointing outburst of Ms Onochie on the death of our brother, Dr Chuba Keshi, for political scores.
“To set the records straight, our brother took ill suddenly, drove himself to the closest clinic to his home in Abuja and died before help could get to him.
“We, therefore, find it offensive and in bad faith to drag this unfortunate incident into any political brawl with the Deputy Senate President.
“We also find it appalling that the post suggested that our brother died because he had no money to pay for medical care due to perceived maltreatment from his boss the Deputy Senate President.
“To the best of our knowledge, Dr Chuba Keshi worked amicably and closely as an important resource person and speechwriter to the Deputy Senate President.”
The Keshi family also warned Onochie to desist from using their brother as a “political pawn and allow him to rest in perfect peace.”
While berating Onochie over her media outbursts and what he termed bad politics, the family added: “We are, therefore, appalled at your recent unimaginable and obvious effort to politicise our grief.”
A close associate of the late Dr Keshi said that although Onochie hails from the same Onicha Olona in Delta State, he is aware that she was not in good standing with Chuba before he passed to glory.
“Dr Keshi has had no interactions with her whatsoever, save for an interesting exchange he had with her on his appointment as a Senior Special Assistant to the Deputy President. of the Senate, His Excellency, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege where she condescendingly responded, that he had not earned the appointment since he was not a card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, instead of congratulating him.
“Ever since then, there has been no interaction between both of them. It may also interest Ms Onochie to note that Dr Keshi was a staff of the National Assembly and was duly paid as at when due by the National Assembly, and not the Deputy President of the Senate who graciously allowed him to serve his country.”
He further charged Onochie to choose another object of her fantasy to use to pursue her ill-timed and vindictive political war and allow the gentle soul of his bosom friend to rest and the family to mourn their loss peacefully.