The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has described the late Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Chinwe Emmanuel Aguma as a capable, loyal and dependable citizen of the state.
The governor, who said this at the night of song in honour of the late Attorney General by his Golfers’ Friends, also urged Port Harcourt residents and the entire people of the state to use the sad incident to bring back love in Port Harcourt and the entire state.
Wike, who was represented by the former Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Austin Opara, described the death as a great loss to the state, adding that the deceased, during his lifetime, meant well not only for the government but the entire state.
Also speaking, the former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. O.C.J. Okocha described the deceased as a friend to many people in Port Harcourt, stressing that more testimonies concerning the activities of the late attorney general would continue to be unveiled to the state.
The former NBA national president also described the late Chinwe Aguma as a great lawyer who, by dint of hard work, got to the pinnacle of his career as Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and attorney general and commissioner for Justice in Rivers State.
On his part, the senator representing Rivers South East in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Abe said that the deceased achieved everything that was important to him.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Golf Section of the Port Harcourt Club, Dr. Diamond Tobin-West said that the death of the deceased was a big loss to the state and the legal profession, stressing that the late Chinwe, during his lifetime, touched the lives of many in the society.
Tobin-West stressed the need for people to prioritise and live everyday as if their last day on earth.
In his homily, the officiating Minister, Rev. Canon Gospel Onuchukwu urged all to receive Jesus Christ.
Meanwhile, the Body of Benchers/Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria have described the Late Attorney-General of Rivers State, Hon Emmanuel Aguma (SAN) as a dedicated legal practitioner who served the legal profession creditably.
The senior law bodies made their position known during their condolence visit to the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike at the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Monday.
Leader of the delegation and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Chief Onueze Okocha said that the untimely demise of the late Attorney-General of Rivers State was very painful.
He said: “We are here to condole with the government and people of Rivers State over the sudden death of the Attorney General. It was very shocking because we saw him discharging his responsibilities till the end of June.
“We have no doubt that the untimely death directly touched the governor and members of the State Executive Council. He was a dedicated lawyer who discharged his duties creditably “.
He urged the governor and members of the State Executive Council to bear the loss with courage.
The former NBA President extended the bodies condolences to the bereaved family.
“It is a painful loss. He supported all our activities, having been a secretary and chairman of the NBA, Port Harcourt branch. He was a statutory member of the Body of Benchers”, he said.
Responding, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike reiterated that the death was painful and it would be difficult for the state to come out of it.
He said: “I have worked in government at different levels and I say without hesitation that the late Attorney-General worked very hard for the state with commitment”.
The governor said as a result of the competence and dedication of the late Attorney-General of Rivers State, the state has never witnessed a legal crisis since 2015.
Wike urged the senior lawyers to actively participate in the burial activities for the late Attorney-General of Rivers State between September 12 and 16, 2018.
The Senior Lawyers signed the condolence register at the front of the Executive Council Chamber of Government House, Port Harcourt.
They later visited the family of the late Attorney-General of Rivers State where they extended their condolences.
