President Goodluck Jonathan said Sunday he received with shock and sadness, news of the passing away of Senator Akpor Pius Ewherido today at the National Hospital in Abuja.
A statement by Presidential Spokesman ,Reuben Abati said “On behalf of himself and all members of the executive arm of the Federal Government, President Jonathan extends heartfelt condolences to Senator Ewherido’s family, the Senate President, Senator David Mark and all of the late Senator’s colleagues in the upper chamber of the National Assembly.”
“The President joins them, members of the Ewherido family and the government and people of Delta State in mourning the distinguished legislator who served commendably as a member and deputy speaker of the Delta State of Assembly before his election as the Senator representing the Delta Central Senatorial District in the 2011 general elections.
P Jonathan also prayed that God Almighty will comfort Senator Ewherido’s family, relatives, colleagues in the National Assembly and all the people of his constituency.He further prayed “ that God will, in His infinite mercies, grant them the strength and fortitude to bear the painful loss of the very promising politician at the relatively youthful age of 50.”
Meanwhile,President of the Senate Senator David Mark wept over the untimely death of Senator Pius Ewherido whom he described as a forthright and vibrant parliamentarian.
In a statement,Mark lamented that Ewherido, who until his death represented Delta Central Senatorial district under Democratic People’s Party (DPP) in the Upper Legislative Chamber, was one of the foremost and hardworking Senators in the 7th Senate.
He noted that Ewherido has within his short but eventful membership of the Senate displayed patriotism, commitment and truly distinguished himself as a parliamentarian of a very high standard.
“We have lost a true friend and colleague. We lost a vibrant and a very articulate senator. We have lost a patriotic Nigerian who stood to be counted when it mattered”‘ Senator Mark lamented.
He noted that one of Senator Ewherido’s bills on how to address the issue of Manslaughter in the land is currently under going thorough legislative works adding that the deceased should have been alive to see his good works aimed at saving mankind.
Mark added that the Senate would do the needful to ensure that the immediate family of Ewherido do not suffer. He told the government and people of Delta state especially the bereaved family to take solace in the fact that the late Senator lived an accomplished life worthy of emulation.
The senate president, who was in Accra, Ghana, for a golf tournament had on receiving the sad news of the late Senator Ewherido’s death cut short his trip and returned home to mourn his departed colleague.
Ewherido died on Sunday in Abuja after he was reportedly rushed to the national hospital.
