Osakwe, an apostle of national unity, says Longers Anyanwu
By Emma Ogbuehi
Tributes continue to come the way of Senator Patrick Osakwe, days after his death. Osakwe who represented Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly between 1999 and 2011, died at the age of 73 in a London hospital on Tuesday night.
It was gathered that the late Senator Patrick Osakwe who hailed from Ugili in Ndokwa West Local Government Area, died after battling an undisclosed ailment.
Among those pained at his passage are the former President of the Senate and PDP 2023 frontline presidential aspirant, Anyim Pius Anyim, Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and former National chairman of Accord Party, Longers Anyanwu. In their separate messages, they described the late senator as committed patriot and expressed shock at his passage.
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Senator Patrick Osakwe dies at 73
In a letter to the son of the late senator, Anyim noted that he was a committed patriot, adding, “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 Sen. Osakwe when we were faced with the challenges of bringing stability to the Senate and upholding the integrity of the Legislative Arm of Government.”
He stressed that Nigerians will greatly miss Osakwe’s outstanding contributions to nation building.
Governor Obaseki, in a statement, described the late Senator Osakwe as a consummate patriot who served his people diligently and championed causes that brought about sustainable development.
“He was an advocate for resource control and one with a fierce belief in the power of hard work, diligence and free enterprise”, the governor stated.
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.
Anyanwu in his tribute, recalled that in 2006 when the PDP denied Osakwe their party ticket to run for a third term to represent his zone in the senate, it was Accord party, that gave him a senatorial ticket alongside eight other candidates for Delta state house of assembly and they all won.
He enthused that as the alternate chairman of Senate Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Committee, the late lawmaker was not recorded as having abused the administration of that vulnerable agency.