By Emma Amaize & Henry Umoru

ABUJA-SENATE President, Senator David Mark, has described the death of Senator Fred Brume as shocking and devastating. He said that the late lawmaker was a rare patriot and a passionate Nigerian, who believed in the development of the entire nation.

According to the Senate President, Senator Brume would be missed for his steadfastness, frank disposition to national issues and commitment to nationhood.

In a condolence letter to the government and the people of Delta State, by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Paul Mumeh, Senate Mark, who noted that Senator Brume was a vibrant and brilliant parliamentarian, who stood to be counted, said, “I feel really touched by the sudden exit of a very dear colleague. He was my friend and a reliable parliamentarian, who was concerned about the welfare and wellbeing of our and her citizenry.”

He recalled that Senator Brume was at the forefront in the struggle for the passage of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Bill into law, which led to the establishment of the Commission to address problems of underdevelopment in the oil bearing states of the country.

Senate President noted that the deceased as the then Pioneer Managing Director of the Delta Steel Company, Ovwian Aladja, Delta State laid the foundation for the development of the steel sector in Nigeria.

He counseled the family to take solace in the fact that the late lawmaker lived an eventful and fulfilled life that touched the lives of the people in very positive ways.

Senator Brume represented Delta Central Senatorial zone under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the Senate from 1999 to 2003. He was Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta and later Chairman, Senate Committee on Power and Steel.

Former Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, reacting said: “I received the news of the death of Senator Brume with rude shock and pain.

His death calls for sober reflection and recalculation. He laboured and worked all his life believing in perfection, but unfortunately, he died the way he died. What happened to Chief Brume should make us to pause in our activities on the earth planet and do constant medical check-up even if it means going to the best hospital in the world.”

Delta North leader, Senator Nosike Ikpo, asked: “What is happening to us in Delta State. We just lost Chief James Otobo, the former deputy premier of the defunct Midwest region.

“I am not happy about this. Death has struck a big blow in Delta State in the past few days. I was presiding over the meeting of the Delta State People and Elders Council when the news of the death of Chief Otobo came to us, last Saturday. We could not eat thereafter only for you to be talking about the death of Senator Brume two days after, why?”