LAWMAKERS in Nigeria are mourning the death of Senator Pius Ewherido, a member of the senate in Abuja representing Delta Central Senatorial District.
According to reports, the 50 year old Senator died Sunday evening while on admission at National Hospital, Abuja.
Ewherido had been under admission at the hospital after he collapsed last Friday afternoon. It was suspected that he suffered a stroke.
It was gathered that arrangements were in top gear to evacuate the Senator to a hospital in Germany before he suddenly collapsed and eventually gave up the ghost on Sunday.
President Goodluck Jonathan joined other Nigerians in expressing shock and sadness at the news of the death of the Senator, with a statement from president’s spokesperson, Mr. Abati, saying that the president he and his cabinet mourn Ewherido’s loss.
The president also expressed his condolences to Ewherido’s family, Senate President David Mark and all of the late senator’s colleagues in the senate.
Senate President David Mark who was in Accra, Ghana for a golf tournament, but cut short his journey on receiving the news of Ewherido’s death described the late senator as a forthright, vibrant parliamentarian and a hardworking senator.
A statement signed by the senate president’s Special Adviser on Media, Kola Ologbondiyan on behalf of Mr. Mark noted that Ewherido had within his short but eventful membership of the Senate displayed patriotism, commitment and truly distinguished himself as a parliamentarian of a “very high standard.”
He added that one of late Ewherido’s bills on how to address the issue of manslaughter in the land was currently undergoing thorough legislative work.
While promising that the Senate will take all necessary actions to ensure that the immediate family of the deceased did not suffer, Senator Mark condoled the government and people of Delta, especially the bereaved family, to take solace in the fact that the late senator lived an accomplished life worthy of emulation.