Senator Ayogu Eze was one of my favourite senators in the 6th and 7th National Assembly, especially when he served as the Senate spokesperson and chairman of the Committee on Information. Later, he oversaw the Works and Housing Committee. At that time, I was a young journalist serving in his neighborhood in Anambra State.
When his counterpart, Hon. Victor Eboigbe, the Federal Commissioner in the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission (RMFC) representing Edo State, confirmed to me the news of Senator Eze’s demise on Thursday at an Abuja hospital after a brief illness at the age of 65, memories of the class, proactiveness, and focus he displayed during his active service came alive.
Honourable Eboigbe described Senator Eze as a perfect gentleman. Others, like the former President of the Senate of the 6th and 7th Assembly, Senator David Mark, lamented the death of Senator Ayogu Eze, describing it as painful and a huge loss to the political class, especially the legislature, where he played vital roles in the constitution review committee. Senator Mark further described him as one of the fertile minds who demonstrated patriotism in his contributions to debates on motions and bills of national importance.
His death was also described as diminishing the tribe of vibrant Igbo political leaders by Senator Ifeanyi Araraume. He had described Senator Eze as a man who was a uniting factor and significant to nationhood. A man who did not have to look back before he briefed Nigerians on the status of affairs of the nation through the National Assembly.
I chose him as my favourite and mentor on issues of national importance and development. He was a politician and journalist whose disposition inspired me to aspire to greatness in my journalism career.
On several occasions at the airport and functions, I met with Senator Eze, who represented Enugu North Senatorial District on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Senate between 2007 and 2015. He was a gentleman who was down to earth.
A grassroots politician and proactive journalist, Senator Eze served as the Commissioner for Information and Culture in Enugu State between 1999 and 2007. In his early career as a journalist, he worked with many newspapers and magazines and rose to the position of editor.
Memories of his impacts are kept alive, and his legacies are replicated in the development of Nigeria.
I will miss an astute lawmaker and a rare journalist, one whose gentle soul will continue to rest in peace.
●Dr. Lois Otse Adams
Journalist, Author, and Film Lecturer, University of Abuja
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