By Emman Ovuakporie
ABUJA—MEMBERS of the House Representatives, yesterday, held a valedictory session for the first Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives in the defunct First Republic (1960-1964), late Chief Emmanuel Akwiwu, as the Speaker, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal and others extolled his virtues.

The Speaker described the late deputy speaker as a patriotic Nigerian who fought for Nigerian independence with a passion for democracy and a selfless service to his fatherland.

Chairman House committee on Upstream Sector, Mr. Dakuku Peterside, called him the encyclopedia of Rivers as the man could tell the story of Port Harcourt and the state by heart.

He said: “He was a shrine in legal matters. Anytime we have any problem, Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Port Harcourt, run to him to get readily available answers.

“He is not from Okrika but we made him the President of Okrika Grammar School Old Boys Association and he excelled even more than indigenes of Okrika and we never regretted it.”