Enugu State government, on Wednesday, held a valedictory session in honour of the late Commissioner for Transport and former House of Assembly member, Mathias Ekweremadu, in his home town, Mpu, Aninri local government area of the state.
In his tribute, the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwanyi, who led other members of the state Executives to pay their last respect to their late colleague, recalled that late Ekweremadu slumped and died during his ministry budget defence at the Enugu State House of Assembly on February 4.
He described late Ekweremadu as a dependable apostle of his administration, an astute politician who served the state in various capacity.
” On February 4, the Enugu State House of Assembly members informed me that the former Commissioner for Transport slumped and had been rushed to the hospital.
” I personally went to the hospital, only to see late Ekweremadu laying motionless and that was the time it dawned on me that Commissioner for Transport is gone.
” Here, I sadly pay my respect to an astute politician who served the state in various capacity without default.
” Life is all about how well spent and not how long.I pray that you will find favour before your creator as Enugu State will miss you, ” governor Ugwuanyi prayed.
Secretary to Enugu State Government, Prof Simon Ortuanya in his tribute,
said that late Ekweremadu lived for one hour but the hour is more than thousand years.
He said that character is measured by what comes out of our mouth and that the late Commissioner for Transport was a man of his words.
Enugu State Chief of Staff, Dr Festus Uzor siad that he knew late Mathias Ekweremadu since 2003.
He added that late Ekweremadu offered the state a credible political service and that, what is important is the history between your birth and death.
” Fortunately, nobody reads his history but others live to do that and that was what we are doing today and years to come.
” Today in a way, we celebrate his good life even as we mourn. All we have to do is to remember him in our prayers every day, ” he said.
In her words, the Commissioner for Gender Affairs , Princess Peace Nnaji described late Ekweremadu as a man of integrity, simple and passionate.
“He came to my office on that faithful day to perform his daily ritual of saying good morning to mummy.
“Ezeigbo as he was fondly called, told me that he will be going to the orphanage home to receive prayers from the children later in the day.
” Little did I know that, he could not make it and he also had a joyous moment with his workers on that Faithful day, ” she said.
Princess Nnaji said that late Ekweremadu died on February 4 in active service as the Commissioner for Transport at the age of 55 years.
Others who paid tributes to the late Mathias Ekweremadu were the Deputy chief of staff to the governor, Prof. Malachy Ugwueze, commissioners for works, Engr. Greg Nnaji, Finance, Mrs Ada Onah- Uyawunne, Information, Hon. Barrister Chidi Alor, Commissioner for local government Matters,Hon. Peter Okonkwo. All described their late colleague as a dependable Ally, dedicated, committed and unassuming.
Mathias Ekweremadu, who was a brother to the former Deputy senate President and senator representing Enugu West senatorial zone, Professor, Ike Ekweremadu rose steadily in politics from being a two time chairman of Aninri Local Government Area. He served the Enugu State House of Assembly as the Chief Whip before his appointment as the Commissioner for Transport, a position he held until his death. His remains will be interred on Friday, March 5.
