The National Assembly, yesterday, cut short plenary sessions of both chambers in honour of one of its vibrant members, Hon Ossy Chinedu Prestige, who passed on over the weekend.
As the senators returned to the chambers for the first time since their recess, last year, President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, expressed shock and sadness over the death of the member.
The Minority Leader of the Senate, Enyinnaya Abaribe, who expressed grief over the loss, lamented that the zone has lost one of its finest lawmakers, saying that Prestige was, “a major stakeholder, a political leader of repute and one personality that is beholden to all irrespective of differences in political party affiliation”
Prestige, until his death, represented Aba North/South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives for two terms, having been first elected in 2015 and re-elected in 2019.
President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Ola Awoniyi, attested that Prestige was a good representative of his constituency in the National Assembly, and that he touched many lives through his business engagements and charity outreach such as the Prestige Ossy Foundation, and The Favoured Initiatives.
Lawan commiserated with his family, friends and political associates over their irreparable loss.
He also condoled with the Government and people of Abia State, and prayed that God Almighty would grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.
The Minority Leader of the Senate, Enyinnaya Abaribe, yesterday, declared that “Ossy’s death was a personal loss to him, being a bosom friend, brother and ally.
“I have lost a friend, brother, ally, a committed patriot, and a good natured Abian. I had wished in my heart and prayed that Ossy recovers to continue with his work in the House. We spoke severally while he was on sick bed, and he kept assuring me that he will be okay, and here we are with this sad reality. He will be sorely missed”, Abaribe said.
The minority leader, however, condoled with the family, the people of Aba North/South Federal Constituency, the government and people of Abia State on this huge loss.
Similarly, the House of Representatives adjourned plenary, yesterday, minutes after it resumed from its 2020 Christmas and New Year holidays.
The adjournment was to honour a fallen member, Hon. Ossy Prestige, whose death occurred on Sunday, February 7, 2021.
He was said to have been sick since the summer of 2020 and was flown to London for treatment.
The Speaker of the House, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, while announcing the development to the House, expressed shock and regrets.
He said that though there were many announcements, including a letter from President Muhammadu Buhari informing the House about the appointment of the new service chiefs, the parliament would still not be sitting.
The speaker, however, gave hints of new Covid-19 safety measures to be announced, today.
He described Prestige as a friend and active member of the 8th and 9th House.
Gbajabiamila also gave brief details of his journey to London to visit the late lawmaker in a hospital.
The speaker said that at the appropriate time, the House would pay formal tributes and accord him the last respect.
He said, “You are well back from the recess. It’s good to see you back. We will be announcing tomorrow new Covid-19 protocols just to keep us safe. We need to take the necessary action.
“On a very sad note, we will not be doing any business, today. I have some announcements including a letter from Mr President on the new service chiefs. I am pushing all that for tomorrow.
“I want to announce the death of our colleague, Hon. Ossy Prestige.
“He’s been sick for a while since the summer of last year. I saw him in October of last year. We chatted and I announced to members to continue to pray for him. I think the minority leader also went to see him. Shortly, we lost communications until the family notified me a couple of days ago of his passage.
“When I went to see him in a UK hospital, he narrated to me how he travelled.
“He was a member of a powerful bloc in 8th assembly. He was a great guy.
“He shared something with me before he travelled to London. He kept telling me he had a dream and I will share that dream with you in good time.
“Our prayer is that God will comfort his family and also accept his soul. We will do a formal valedictory at the right time. We will do a minute silence for now.”
With the comments, the Speaker called the Majority Leader, Hon Ado Doguwa, to move the motion for adjournment.
Seconded by the Minority Leader, Hon Ndudi Elumelu, the House observed one-minute silence, and adjourned plenary to today.

By: Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja