IDEKE: Encomium as Enugu pays tribute to late Senator Okey Ezea

It was solemn moments in Enugu, on Tuesday evening, when dignitaries from Enugu State and beyond gathered for a Night of Tributes in honour of the late Senator Okechukwu Ezea, who untill his death on November 18 2025, represented Enugu North Senatorial district.

Senator Ezea was various described as a man of integrity who fought long for humanity and when he had the opportunity, he departed suddenly and surprisingly.

They said that he remained an epitome of courage whose vision will continue to exist through his political ideology. He was described as a Man who never accepted giving up on issues he passionate about.

Among the dignitaries present in the Night of Tributes included the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ossai; Senator Victor Umeh, Prof Osita Ogbu, the Speaker Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uche Ugwu; the Caretaker Committee Chairman of APC in Enugu state, Dr Ben Nwoye.

In attendance also were the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Prof Simon Ortuanya; the Chairman of Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, HRH, Igwe Ikechukwu Asadu; Prof Austin Akubue, Senator Chuka Utazi, former Minister Fidelia Njeze, Chief Matthias Omeh, among many others.

The Chairman of the Night of Tributes and former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Nnia Nwodo stated that it was a gathering for remembrance of a great man whose children should know what their father's attribute meant to the people.

Nwodo said that Senator Ezea proved that in his gean is a greatness, who was a robust intellectual, one who read veraciously and who wanted knowledge even after retiring from civil service. 

"Okey Ezea was humble. He felt he was the beginning and end of what Nsukka represents by answering 'Ideke' and that was why we made him a Senator.

"In his election our people spoke with one voice, he didn't impose himself as a big man on the people. He knows that our politics was terribly corrupted but jumped into it to make a difference. He visited every part of Nsukka, particularly to be with the down trodden. May his soul rest in a peace," Nwodo eulogized.

The Chairman of the National Burial Committee, Senator Victor Umeh said that Senator Ezea is a great fallen hero of Nigeria. 

Umeh said, "He (Ezea) made great impact in the lives of people, he was forthright and will stay with you like rock of jibrata. He was a man of his own conviction and unweaverd. He loved his people with passion and was ready to die for the cause of his people.

"I had followed this political trajectory and we had a common belief of fighting for the Igbo people of Nigeria. He was always agitated on issues of marginalization of people and didn't rest until they were cleared.

"He championed the clamouring for creation of Adada State and had seen the state created in his mind. He spoke with tears for the creation of Adada State and he gathered people for the project, but unfortunately he took ill and died," Umeh mourned.

Senator Ezea will be buried on Friday February 13th in his hometown, Itchi, Igboeze South Local Government Area of Enugu State.