BY BEN AGANDE
ABUJA— Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, has condoled with the families of late Justice Anthony Aniagolu, Zakari Mohammed, and Nigeria’s foremost lady of songs, Christy Essien-Igbokwe.

In separate condolence messages sent to the bereaved families, Ihedioha expressed shock and sadness at the death of the late jurist, the ace broadcaster, and Nigeria’s foremost female musical icon, describing their exit from earth at this time as a big loss to, not just their families and professions but also the nation at large.

Describing the late Aniagolu as a man with “uncommon wisdom and knowledge whose infectious sense of humor and mature handling of the proceedings of the defunct Constituent Assembly ensured that ethno-religious balance and political amity was maintained in the Nigerian federation,” the deputy speaker  noted that the late jurist left behind solid footprints in his landmark judicial pronouncements which “have remained till date major reference points in the legal profession.

“With his death, the nation has lost a legal luminary of outstanding abilities, a pathfinder and one of the founding architects of modern Nigeria. May God, in His infinite mercy, grant his soul eternal repose.”

In another condolence message to the family, management and staff of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN),the deputy Speaker described the late Mohammed as “an icon of the broadcast genre of journalism; a pioneer of sorts in the art of voice-over; and a celebrated pace-setter in radio programming in Nigeria. His career in the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) which spanned over three decades created a landmark milestone which is now further accentuated by his untimely demise.”

Expressing regret that Zakari’s death was untimely, the Deputy Speaker urged the family to be consoled by the fact that he lived a good life and “left indelible footprints in the sands of time especially in his contributions to social change and national development.”

On the late Essien-Igbokwe, Hon. Ihedioha described her as “a national asset whose music and songs inspired a whole generation of Nigerians and brought happiness into many homes,” recalling her reign as president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) as the period which “marked a watershed in the once powerful grouping of leading musicians in the country. To date, she left a record as the only female musician in Nigeria to have led the association.”

Noting that her contributions to national development earned her the conferment of the award of the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR), Ihedioha commiserated with her husband, children and the entire Igbokwe family for the loss while praying God to grant them the fortitude to go through this trying period.