THE Enugu State House of Assembly yesterday held a valedictory session for the former Deputy Speaker of the House, Honourble Linus Ali who would be buried Friday in his country home, Onicha, Enugu- Enugu-Ezike in Igboeze North Local Government Area.

Pouring encomiums on the late legislator,  the Speaker, EugeneOdo described his former colleague as a courageous man who stood out when it mattered most, stressing that he contributed  immensely not only towards the development of  the people of his Enugu-Ezike Community, but to the Enugu State and Nigeria in general.

Odo said, “When the issue of this nature comes up, it makes us sober. It reminds us that someday we shall be in this state. This is a death for mourning and not celebration.”
Various speakers at the session agreed that the late Ali was one of the John the Baptists of the Assembly, recalling that he was one of the major actors in the legislative house between 1999 and 2003.

“Although Hon Ali lived a short life but his life was a glorious one as he died a natural death. He was a courageous man who laid his life for justice, equity and fair-play,” they added.

The lawmakers, however, called on Governor Sullivan Chime to pay the withheld salaries and entitlements of their late colleague while he was in assembly as a way of reducing the suffering of the deceased widow and her children.

The eldest son of the deceased, Ikechukwu, who was in tears thanked the lawmakers for giving his father the great of honour, urging them not to abandon the family.