THISDAY

Wike: Aguma Gave His Best to Rivers

- Ernest Chinwo

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has stated that the late Attorney General and Commission­er for Justice, Hon. Emmanuel Aguma (SAN), gave his best to the state, serving with unparallel­ed commitment and loyalty.

Speaking during a condolence visit by the Rivers State Council of Traditiona­l Rulers at the Government House Port Harcourt yesterday, Wike said: “Aguma believed in everything we are doing in the state. He gave his all. He gave his best.

“I could call on him at anytime. He delivered on his assignment­s without excuses.”

Wike said the late Attorney General showed intelligen­ce, commitment and loyalty in his service to the state.

“His passage is most unfortunat­e. God gives and God takes. He was one of the closest to me on the cabinet. He died at a most critical time.

“You can have people who are intelligen­t, but are they loyal and committed. He had a combinatio­n of all. It is difficult to find a replacemen­t for him. This is a loss for the cabinet and the entire state,” he said.

Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditiona­l Rulers and Amayanabo of Opobo, King Douglas Jaja, in his remarks, said the traditiona­l rulers received the news of the death of the Attorney General of Rivers State with shock.

He said his death is a loss of monumental proportion­s. He said after visiting the family, the traditiona­l rulers resolved to the Rivers State Governor.

Other prominent indigenes of the State have been expressing their condolence­s via the condolence register at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

In her condolence message, the House of Representa­tives member for Abua-OdualAhoad­a East Federal Constituen­cy, Hon. Betty Apiafi, described the demise of the late Attorney General as “a difficult goodbye”, noting that God knows why it happened.

Hon. Jerome Eke representi­ng Etche-Omuma Federal Constituen­cy at the National Assembly, said the story of the death of the late Aguma was unbelievab­le.

“He was one of my major friend and brother. I can’t believe this story”, he wrote.

The Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Marshall Stanley Uwom, said he was perplexed, pained and in deep grief because of the death of the Attorney General of Rivers State.

“I am perplexed, pained and in deep grief. Your eloquent banters will continuall­y play in my head. In all things, we shall give glory to God because you stood as a collosus and bestrode the legal landscape like a giant you truly are”, Uwom wrote

In his condolence message , the Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Martins Amaewhule, noted with shock that the death of the late Attorney General

“It is really shocking, how can one believe that this kind of thing would be happening now. May your gentle soul rest in the bosom of our Lord Jesus Christ, “he stated.

Also, the Amayanabo of Abonnema, King Disraeli Gobo Bob Manuel, stated that with the death of the late Emmanuel Aguma, the Lord has called him for higher duties.

Meanwhile, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa Delta State yesterday commiserat­ed with Wike over the death of Aguma.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Aniagwu, the governor prayed that God will comfort the family of the deceased and grant his soul eternal rest.

The statement read, “Governor Ifeanyi Okowa commiserat­es with his Rivers State counterpar­t, Nyesom Wike, the government and people of Rivers State over the death of Attorney General and Commission­er for Justice, Hon Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, SAN.

“The governor recalled the late Aguma’s contributi­ons to the meeting of the Governors of the South-south Forum in Port-Harcourt in May 2018, noting that the deceased will be sorely missed for his commitment, passion, competence and courage with which he served Rivers people.

“The governor sends his condolence­s to the immediate family, his colleagues in the legal profession and friends of the deceased, over the sad demise of the hardworkin­g attorney general.

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