By Anastasia Agunwa/Chizoba Okeke/Gloria Abugu :
Anambra State House of Assembly has held a valedictory session in honour of Dr. Ernest Onyekwena, a former lawmaker who represented Orumba North Constituency in the old Anambra State during the Second Republic in 1983.
Dr. Onyekwena, who hailed from Ufuma community in Orumba North Local Government Area, passed away at the age of 78.
In a tribute delivered during the session, the Speaker Anambra State House of Assembly,, Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze, represented at the plenary by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Chukwuma Okoye on August 29, described the late Dr. Onyekwena as a distinguished community leader and a dedicated public servant.
He highlighted Dr. Onyekwena’s unwavering commitment to legislative processes and his lasting impact on his constituency.
Paying glowing tributes to the late lawmaker, the member representing Orumba North Constituency, Mr. Paul Obu, and his Orumba South counterpart, Engr. Emma Nwafor expressed their deep sense of loss, noting that Dr. Onyekwena was instrumental in the development of Orumba region.
They recalled how Dr . Onyekwena as Chairman House Committee on Higher Education, played a key role in the establishment of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze, and the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, among other achievements, despite his brief tenure of six months in the Assembly.
Other lawmakers, including the member representing Anaocha 11 Constituency, Hon. Ejike Okechukwu, the Majority Leader, Hon. Ikenna Ofodeme, the member representing Ihiala 11 Constituency, Mr. Golden Iloh and Hon. Uchenna Ogbonna, who represented Orumba North in the Fourth Assembly, eulogized Dr. Onyekwena for his courage and capacity to serve effectively during a turbulent period in Nigeria’s history, noting that his leadership and contributions during the military regime underscored his remarkable abilities.
In a vote of thanks, Dr. Obinna Onyekwena, the son of the deceased, expressed his gratitude to the Assembly for honouring his late father.
He assured the lawmakers that his family would continue to uphold and live by the legacies left behind by Dr. Onyekwena, who had dedicated his life to the service of his community and the betterment of society.
Anastasia, Chizoba and Gloria are of the State Ministry of Information, Awka.