Sanni Onogu, Abuja
The Senate on Thursday suspended order 13 on its Standing Orders to enable it sit on Friday to conclude its legislative business before adjourning for the Christmas and New Year break.
This followed a motion by the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, who drew the attention of the Senate to the death of Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu, on Wednesday.
Late Senator Uwajumogu represented Imo North Senatorial District until he passed on.
The Senate observed a minute silence in honour of their departed colleague and there after suspended all businesses listed on its order paper.
Order 13 (2) of the Senate Standing Orders 2015 as amended, reads: “On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, the Senate shall meet at 10.00am and unless previously adjourned shall sit until 2.00 pm…”
Senator Uwajumogu, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was the chairman, Senate Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity and also a former speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly.
He died at the age of 51 in his Abuja residence on Wednesday.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan told reporters after signing the condolence register that Uwajumogu’s death was not just a huge loss for the Senate, but Nigeria at large.
Lawan said: “Nigeria has lost a great man and his constituency would definitely feel the loss.
This is a huge loss not only to the 9th Senate but to the entire country. The late Senator Benjamin was one time Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly.
“He was a returning Senator, very resourceful, very patriotic, very deep, and quintessential legislator.”
Lawan recalled that Uwajumogu made his last contribution on Tuesday, December 17, when the upper chamber considered a motion on the challenges confronting Nigerians and their businesses in Ghana.
“He made a very categorical statement that they must at all times, as senators, protect the interest of Nigerians.
“And for us in the 9th Senate, this will continue to be one of the guiding principles of what we do to always ensure that we protect Nigerians wherever they are in this world,” Lawan said.
The Senate President added that Uwajumogu gave a very good account of himself as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity.
“But, I think we are united in one thing, we must ensure we live to protect those ideals that he lived and worked for,” Lawan added.
On his part, the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, described Uwajumogu’s death as “painful.”
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“Ben is not just a colleague, he was a brother and a comrade. It is a personal loss, just when he was settling down this thing (death) happened.
“He was with me in my office on the eve of his demise. We spent about two hours. I pray God grant the family he left behind the fortitude to bear the loss,” Omo-Agege said.
Earlier, the Leader of the Senate, Yahaya Abdullahi, drew the attention of his colleagues to what he described as a sad occurrence.
Abdullahi said: “Mr President, with your kind permission, I rise to announce the death of Senator Benjamin Chukwuemeka Uwajumogu, who passed on to the great beyond Wednesday the 18th day of December, 2019. It is a very sad day for the entire Senate.
“He was 51 years old which means that I am 17 years older than him. So you can see the kind of loss Nigeria suffered.
“He was one time Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, a Senator per excellence in whom we shared and went through alot in the 8th Senate. He made a lot of contributions you people are all aware of. But here we are today.
“Mr President, it is a loss that have shocked all of us. May the God Almighty grant his soul eternal rest and also take care of those he left behind.
“Uwajumogu was our chairman, Employment and Labour Committee and going by our tradition and convention, Mr President, Distinguished colleagues, I will like to move three motions.
“First, for the Senate to observe one minute silence in honour of this our great colleague.
“And secondly, to adjourn this Senate and indeed, the National Assembly in respect of the loss.
“And thirdly, to ask this Senate, to suspend our rule 13 in order for us to conclude our legislative work before we proceed on Christmas and New year break. Mr. President and Distinguished colleagues, I so move.
The Senate Minority Leader, Eyinnaya Abaribe, while seconding the motion, described the late Benjamin Uwajumogu as a good man that “death will never takeaway his name.”
Also Thursday, Chairman, Senate Committee on Cooperation and Integration in Africa/NEPAD, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, described the demise of Senator Uwajumogu as devastating and a huge loss to the country.
Senator Nnamani in a statement in Abuja said that the sudden death of Uwajumogu has created a huge vacuum in the political arena especially in the South East zone of Nigeria.
Nnamani said that Uwajumogu was a distinguished parliamentarian who was passionate and indeed committed to the peace and unity of Nigeria.
“He was a parliamentarian who believed in Justice for all and rule of law. He demonstrated this attribute in his robust and patriotic contributions to national issues. He will be sorely missed for his unwavering commitment to the ideals of nationhood,” Nnamani said.
Nnamani added: “I’m pained that Uwajumogu is now referred to in the past tense. I knew how passionate and desirous he wanted to serve his people by seeking their votes to come to the Senate.
“He planned to make a positive difference in the lives of his constituents and the nation at large but his dreams could not be realized before the unexpected happened yesterday.
“My heart goes out to the immediate family, the government and people of Imo state and the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
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