Jonathan, Mark, Delta Govt Mourn Sen Ewherido

President Goodluck Jonathan and other political leaders have offered their condolences over the sudden death of Senator Akpor Pius Ewherido in Abuja yesterday, even as the senator’s colleagues are expressing shock.
Late Senator Pius Ewherido was said to have suffered stroke after suddenly collapsing last Thursday while making a phone call in his Abuja residence.
A statement yesterday signed by the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, said President Goodluck Jonathan has received with shock and sadness, news of the passing away of Senator Akpor Pius Ewherido, yesterday at the National Hospital, Abuja.
According to the statement, “on behalf of himself and all members of the executive arm of the Federal Government, President Jonathan extends heartfelt condolences to Senator Ewherido’s family, the Senate President, Senator David Mark, and all of the late Senator’s colleagues in the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
“The president joins them, members of the Ewherido family and the government and people of Delta State in mourning the distinguished legislator, who served commendably as a member and deputy speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly before his election as the Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District in the 2011 general elections.
It further indicated that “President Jonathan prays that God Almighty will comfort Senator Ewherido’s family, relatives, colleagues in the National Assembly and all the people of his constituency.
“He further prays that God will, in His infinite mercies, grant them the strength and fortitude to bear the painful loss of the very promising politician at the relatively youthful age of 50.”
Similarly, the Senate President, David Mark yesterday expressed sorrow over the death of Sen. Pius Ewherido (DPP-Delta).
This is contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja.
Mark described the late senator as a forthright, vibrant parliamentarian and a hardworking  senator.
He noted that Ewherido had within his short but eventful membership of the Senate displayed patriotism, commitment and truly distinguished himself as a parliamentarian of a “very high standard’’.
“We have lost a true friend and colleague. We lost a vibrant and a very articulate senator. We have lost a patriotic Nigerian who stood to be counted when it mattered,’’ Mark said.
The senate president noted that one of late Ewherido’s bills on how to address the issue of manslaughter in the land was currently undergoing thorough legislative work.
According to him, the deceased should have been alive to see his good works aimed at saving mankind.
He said the Senate would do the ‘needful’ to ensure that the immediate family of the deceased  did not suffer.
He condoled with the government and people of Delta, especially the bereaved family, to take solace in the fact that the late senator lived an accomplished life worthy of emulation.
Mark was in Accra, Ghana, for a golf tournament, but cut short his journey on receiving the news of Ewherido’s death.
However, the Government of Delta State, has called for calm following the sudden death of one of the three senators from the state.
Chief Akpo Pius Ewherido was deputy speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly before his election as the Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District in April, 2011.
He died yesterday at the National Hospital, Abuja, after a brief illness, according to an announcement by the Delta State Government.
While commiserating with the late Senator’s family, Secretary to the Delta State Government, Comrade Ovuozourie S. Macaulay, in the special announcement, advised “Deltans, particularly members of his Constituency to remain calm.”
Ewherido, who turned 50 on May 4, obtained a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Obafemi Awolowo Univeristy, Ife, and a Bachelor in Law from the University of Benin.
He was vice chairman of the Senate Marine Transport Committee and a member of the Trade and Investment Committee.

Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku (left), being welcomed by Kano State Commissioner for Education, Mr Faruk Iya, during the reception in honour of Mohammed Garba (middle), President, Federation of African Journalists, in Abuja last Thursday night.