BY FRANCIS IGATA

ENUGU THE people of Awgu and Aninri Local Government Areas in Enugu State have unveiled the sculpture of Deputy Senate President, DSP, Ike Ekwremadu mounted at the road junction within the community leading to Akaeze, Uburu and Ishiagu all in Ebonyi State on the Akaeze-Aninri-Awgu-Oji River federal road attracted by the senator as a demonstration of love and gratitude.

It was a road that changed the entire landscape of Awgu and Aninri communities in Enugu State as well as Ivo and Ohaozara communities in Ebonyi State.

Expectedly, it was a great concourse of the high and mighty as well as the common man. It was a depiction of the true character of a man – the man of the people – whose effervescent charisma and exceptional philanthropic dispositions resonate across every strata of the society. Ikeoha, as the Deputy Senate President is fondly called, commands the affection of a great number of people and the attendance to the event stood as a testimony.

Serving and former senators

From governors David Umahi of Ebonyi State, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and the host governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; deputy governors, former governors, Senate President Bukola Saraki, and a host of other serving and former senators and the immediate former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Senator Anyim Pius Anyim. The list was actually endless.

The crowd at the reception ground became electrified at the arrival of the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, who led other senators to the event in a long motorcade, from Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu to the 40-kilometre drive to the country home of their colleague. For many, the presence of Saraki was the confirmation of the bi-partisan spirit and leadership in the upper legislative chambers, which many believe, holds a lot of hope, benefits and innovations to the nation if properly harnessed.

This much was demonstrated in the speech of Senator Saraki, who described the celebrant and his deputy, as a man who has the interest of the country at heart. This was even as Ekweremadu had described his re-emergence as a senator and DSP as ordained by God.  Addressing the large crowd amid cheers by well-wishers and supporters, Saraki after a special thanksgiving service, where Ekweremadu had re-dedicated himself to the service of his fatherland and mankind, expressed optimism that his partnership with his deputy was for the interest of the nation. He described Ekweremadu as a man, who every Nigerian politician should look forward to working with.

He said: “For we, politicians, it is always better for us to get close to know somebody because in our meetings in the 7th Senate, two of us were far apart, but in this current Senate, I am the first person to tell a few people that Senator Ekweremadu is a perfect gentleman. You are a perfect gentleman and I repeat that many times and you are a good example for those of us who are politicians.

“He is the type of Nigerian that we would want to continue to serve because he only sees things for the good of Nigeria. I am grateful enough to be working with you and I will continue to assure you that we will continue to work closely for the interest of this great country.

“Ekweremadu is the longest serving Deputy Senate President in the history of Nigeria. It is my great pleasure to be here and be part of this celebration. I speak on behalf of myself and all the senators to congratulate you and associate with you and to recognise your contributions not only to your community, not only to your state, not only to the South-East, but to Nigeria.

Earlier at the special thanksgiving service by his family, Ekweremadu, had while recalling his journey back to the Senate, said: “Today for us is just another day for thanking God. The difference is that we have invited you to join us in thanking God and one day alone cannot be sufficient to thank God for His kindness in my life and that of my family.

“About two years ago, nobody would have believed that we will be here talking about Ike Ekweremadu being a senator again, let alone being the DSP of the Senate. But, by the grace of God, I am today not only the senator representing Enugu West, but also the DSP. “We went through very tumultuous primaries that almost divided our state along the line, but we thank God that today Enugu is united and peaceful.

“After the elections, PDP lost control of the National Assembly and many people thought we were finished, but we went into political engineering and I want to thank my colleagues for that long night. We decided that when we got to the chambers in the morning, we would perform wonders and when the time came for the inauguration of the Senate, I was re-elected DSP of the Senate. It was the will of God.

He particularly thanked God for sparing his life during the assassination attempt on him, assuring that he remained unperturbed, nevertheless. “In November, there was an attempt on my life, but God saved me. I am not scared and I want to reassure the people of Nigeria that we will continue to serve; we want to continue to deliver services without fear or favour, he added.