Senator Osakwe was a committed patriot. He was one of the strong voices in the 4th Senate that stood for the truth and defended the interest of ordinary Nigerians – Senator Pius Anyim
Senator Osakwe was an advocate for resource control and one with a fierce belief in the power of hard work, diligence and free enterprise – Gov. Godwin Obaseki
As the chairman of the NDDC Senate Committee, Senator Osakwe never abused the administration of that vulnerable agency – Chief Longers Anyanwu
By Emma Ogbuehi
More prominent Nigerians on Friday eulogised Senator Patrick Osakwe.
Senator Osakwe, who once represented Delta North Senatorial District of Delta State, died on Tuesday night at the age of 73 in a London hospital.
Since then, those who crossed his path in business and politics have been giving testimonies.
Former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and frontline presidential aspirant, described the deceased as a committed patriot.
Speaking in the same vein, Chief Longers Anyanwu, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain from Imo State and former national chairman of Accord Party said the death of Senator Osakwe whom he described as a consummate grassroots politician is a great loss to Nigeria.
For Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Senator Osakwe was “a consummate patriot who served his people diligently and championed causes that brought about sustainable development.”
In a letter addressed to the son of late Senator Osakwe, Sir Chris Osakwe, Anyim, who was Senate President and Chairman of the National Assembly when the deceased was a senator, said: “I can only imagine how painful this experience will be for you and your entire family.
“Sen Osakwe was a committed patriot. He was one of the strong voices in the 4th Senate that stood for the truth and defended the interest of ordinary Nigerians.
“As President of the Senate, l benefitted from the wisdom and maturity of Senator Osakwe when we were faced with the challenges of bringing stability to the Senate and upholding the integrity of the Legislative Arm of Government.”
READ ALSO: Senator Patrick Osakwe dies at 73
The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) went on to lament that “Nigerians will greatly miss Senator Osakwe’s outstanding contributions to nation building. It is my prayer that the good Lord will grant the soul of our distinguished Sen. Patrick Osakwe eternal rest in His bosom.
“May the Lord console, comfort and grant you and the rest of your family the strength to go through this difficult period,” Anyim further stated.
In his own condolence message made available to TheNiche, Governor Obaseki noted that Senator Osakwe “was an advocate for resource control and one with a fierce belief in the power of hard work, diligence and free enterprise.
“The Senator’s foray into the business world led to the setting up of successful enterprises in the hospitality and tourism space within and outside Delta State.”
Obaseki added, “He will be remembered for his conviviality, candour, compassion and commitment to the progress and development of the people of Delta North in particular and Nigeria at large.
“I commiserate with the Osakwe family, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State, the people of Delta North as well as friends and associates and pray that God will grant all the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”
On his part, Chief Longers Anyanwu, who expressed shock and grief over the death of Senator Osakwe who represented Delta North in the Senate for three consecutive terms, recalled how the Accord Party under his leadership came to Osakwe’s rescue when the PDP denied him ticket.
“In 2006 when the PDP denied him the ticket to run for a third term to represent the good people of his senatorial zone, it was the Accord Party under my watch as the National Chairman that gave him a senatorial ticket alongside eight other candidates for Delta State House of Assembly and they comprehensively won.
“Senator Osakwe, a consummate and grassroots politician, defeated other candidates who ran on the tickets of major political parties and won his election convincingly.
“It was historic that through him, the Accord Party, which was then a relatively new political party had a strong voice in the Senate and sponsored a motion that called on the ruling PDP to introduce a government of national unity, which President Umaru YarÁdua wholly implemented by appointing people from other political parties into his cabinet.
“As the chairman of the NDDC Senate Committee, he never abused the administration of that vulnerable agency.
“An astute politician and successful businessman, the political and business class will miss him.
“As the national chairman of Accord Party, Senator Osakwe, despite his high position and age, accorded me the highest respect and loyalty any national chairman of a political party would get and ensured that other elected officers of our party from local governments to State Houses of Assembly and National Assembly did same.
“He was a perfect party man. I commiserate with his immediate family, the Delta State government, Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Accord Party and indeed his numerous well wishers in Nigeria and across the globe.”
