What Senator Okey Ezea stood for - constituents mourn

The Nsukka people of Enugu North Senatorial district have continued to express grief, tributes and eulogies over the sudden demise of Senator Okechukwu Ezea, Ideke.

Dr Ezugworie from Udenu local government described Ezea's death as an unwanted and very sad news, without prior announcement of illness and possible death. 

"Just kwam."

He said, "Dr. Ezea, you stood strong for years against injustice. Your contest for Governorship in 2011 was born out of the marginalization of Nsukka zone, by the administration of Chimaroke, who picked Sullivan Chime of Enugu Zone again, in place of Itanyi, Osita OGBU and others from Nsukka zone.

"The legacies you left behind are testimonials of your concerns for justice. In a radio programme today's morning, it was mentioned that APC boasts of having up to 83% of the Federal Houses (Senate and Rep), except the principled ones, who refused to be bought over by decamping to APC.

"I didn't wait for them to name those principled ones. I counted you straight away, not knowing that such ugly news exists. May God grant you eternal life in Heaven and consolations to the bereaved family members, Amen."

The constituents regret that the agitation for creation of Adada state has been set back with Ideke's demise.

Political soulmate, Bar. Peter Okonkwo (Ohamadike) who contested previous elections with Ezea said that Ideke was a Man with deep personal convictions who just went by the way of all Mortals.

"I’ve struggled with this jolting sad news since today’s morning. 

Sharing this opinion is truly difficult for me!! Though disagreement with Distinguished Senator Okey Ezea on the political terrain was inevitable, not even his mortal enemy would wish him this cold visitation of fate. 

"Ideke was a true Political General tested on the battlefield of our Janjaweed styled Democracy. Okey joined H.E Ambassador Fidel Ayogu and my humble self for the quest for Enugu Governorship after 2003 Elections.  

"While 90% of Politicians of Nsukka Zone extraction were groomed and nurtured into wealth and relevance by the Political Establishment of that era, Senator Ezea and Myself emptied all our Networth in pursuit of redemption of Nsukka Agenda and our personal glory. We threw all we had into it and became extremely diminished materially and Financially.  

"Maybe, if I didn’t fight with the ammunition of 'No Retreat, No Surrender', my two giant Four Unit Duplexes at Parkview Estate, Ikoyi could’ve remained with me till date. The same goes for Senator Okey Ezea. 

"When Fate and Providence enthroned Ideke Senator in the last 2023 Election, I personally told him that it was a Restoration Gift from God and admonished him to be generous with his enthronement. 

"For cold hands of death to snatch Ideke barely two years of his divine breakthrough, is truly heart-wrenching. Love him or hate him, Nsukka lost a great loud voice on the Political Terrain. We lost an intellectual giant. We lost a passionate fighter for Nsukka advancements. His death came at a wrong time of his Restoration. This was sadly another candle in the wind!!"