Demise Of A Legend: Emmanuel C Aguma (SAN)

Last Friday, the Rivers State Government broke the sad news of the death of the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, SAN.
In an emotion-laden statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Barrister Emma Okah, the state government said, “It is with very deep pain but gratitude to the Almighty God that the Rivers State Government wishes to announce the demise of the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, SAN, today, Friday 10th August, 2018 in a London hospital.
Until his death, Emmanuel Chiwenwo Aguma, SAN served the State with amazing sense of responsibility, commitment, passion, competence and courage. At all times, even in his sick bed, his exemplary zeal to serve Rivers State never waned.
Consequently, the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Chief Nyesom Wike, directed that flags fly at half-mast for two days, beginning from last Saturday as a mark of honour to mourn the departed legend.
“Needless to say that Rivers State and indeed the nation will miss his versatility and invaluable contributions to the development of our state and Nigeria, this loss is monumental but we urge all people of goodwill to remember his wife, children, mother and the entire Late Chief Emmanuel W. Aguma’s family of Port Harcourt as well as the State in prayers”, the government said.
Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, SAN, was a Rivers State lawyer and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) politician.
He was, until his demise, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state.
Between 2000 and 2002, Aguma worked as Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, Port Harcourt Branch, and also chaired the Bar from 2006 to 2008.
On 10 July, 2015, the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee conferred the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on him alongside 20 others, and were sworn in on 21 September, 2015.
Lamenting the death of the legal luminary, Chief Nyesom Wike stated that the late Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon Emmanuel Aguma (SAN) gave his best to the state, serving it with unparalleled commitment and loyalty.
Speaking during a condolence visit by the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers at the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Saturday, Wike said: “Aguma believed in everything we are doing in the state. He gave his all. He gave his best.
“I could call on him at anytime. He delivered on his assignments without excuses”.
Wike said that the late Attorney General showed intelligence, commitment and loyalty in his service to the state.
“His passage is most unfortunate. God gives and God takes. He was one of the closest to me on the cabinet. He died at a most critical time.
“You can have people who are intelligent, but are they loyal and committed? He had a combination of all. It is difficult to find a replacement for him. This is a loss for the cabinet and the entire state”, he said.
Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and Amanyanabo of Opobo, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja said that the traditional rulers received the news of the death of the Attorney General of Rivers State with shock.
He said that his death is a loss of monumental proportions.
Jaja said after visiting the family, the traditional rulers resolved to visit the Rivers State Governor.
Other prominent indigenes of the state have been expressing their condolences via the condolence register at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
In her condolence message, the House of Representatives member for Abua-Odual-Ahoada East Federal Constituency, Hon. Betty Apiafi described the demise of the late Attorney General as “a difficult goodbye”, noting that God knows why it happened.
Another House of Representatives member representing Etche-Omuma Federal Constituency, Hon. Jerome Eke, said the news of the death of the late Attorney General, Hon. Emmanuel Aguma was unbelievable.
“He was one of my major friends and brothers. I can’t believe this story”, he wrote.
The Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Marshall Stanley Uwom said he was perplexed, pained and in deep grief because of the death of the Attorney General of Rivers State.
“I am perplexed, pained and in deep grief. Your eloquent banters will continually play in my head. In all things, we shall give glory to God because you stood as a colossus and bestrode the legal landscape like a giant you truly are”, Uwom wrote.
In his condolence message , the Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Martins Amaewhule noted with shock the death of the late Attorney General.
“It is really shocking, how can one believe that this kind of thing would be happening now? May your gentle soul rest in the bosom of our Lord Jesus Christ,” he stated.
Also, the Amanyanabo of Abonnema, King Disrael Gobo Bob Manuel stated that with the death of late Emmanuel Aguma, the Lord has called him for higher duties.
However, following the sad passage of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon Emmanuel Aguma (SAN), flags at the Government House, Port Harcourt and other government offices flew at half-mast last Saturday.
On Friday, Wike, who received the news of the death of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon Emmanuel Aguma (SAN) with shock and sadness, led some leaders of the state and members of the State Executive Council on a condolence visit to the Aguma Family House in Ogbunabali, Port Harcourt.
After commiserating with the Aguma family, Wike ordered that flags fly at half-mast for two days.
A condolence register has been opened in honour of the late Attorney General of Rivers State at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
Prominent leaders of Rivers State and members of the State Executive Council have been expressing their condolences via the condolence register.
Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani said that the sudden death of the Attorney General of Rivers State is a loss to humanity.
He wrote: “Yet again, the human landscape has been desecrated and further reduced by the sudden and unplanned departure of the Rivers State Attorney-General.
You will forever be remembered.