The Benue State House of Assembly on Wednesday, March 13, held a valedictory session for late Senator Joseph Kennedy Nyikwagh Waku.
Speaking on the floor of the house, the Clerk, Dr. Torese Agena said the state has lost a political icon in the person of Late Waku.
Agena described him as a legislator per excellence who led the house from September to December in 1983.
“We are particularly pained that we are going to miss his legislative counsel especially this current this legislature in this current situation.
“The legislature remains scanty and students and lecturers would have found in him a reservoir of literature to study so that lessons could be got.
“Politicians would have tapped from his wealth of experience to better their practice but this is not to be as his demise will lessen the deepening of democracy in the country and in Benue in particular,” he said.
Dr. Agena urged the speaker to request the state government to immortalize the late Senator Waku explaining that as a monument, the Benue community will remember his contributions to the development of the state.
Also speaking on behalf of the people of Zones A, B and C, Chief whip, Kester Kyenge, Mrs Ngunan Adingi and Deputy Majority leader, Audu Sule respectively, took turns to pour accolades and pay their last respects to the man Waku just as they were all moved to tears as they spoke.
Kester Kyenge said the late Waku gave his strength and energy to the growth of democracy in Nigeria. “Waku is selfless and have sacrificed to direct and intervene when there is crisis in the state.
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“His sense of humour is exceeding as he had the capacity to make those who mourn to forget their grief. Benue state and indeed Nigeria have lost a rare gem,” he added.
Ngunan Adingi and Audu Sule urged Beneue people to remember what Waku stood for and prayed God to rest his soul.
The Majority leader, Avine Agbum said “we will miss his political sagacity but we cannot question God.”
The chairman Forum of Former Members of the State House of Assembly, Sylvester Tachin condoled with the family of Waku.
“It is indeed a very sad moment for us. He was a through bred activist, a man of several parts, an activist in the legislature and politics.
“Death is not supposed to come to Waku now because this is the time we need him most when the nation’s democracy is under threat of collapse.”
Speaker of the House, Hon. Titus Uba stated that the members convened to pay the last respect to the late senator.
He prayed God to give Waku’s family and the Benue community the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Earlier, the majority leader, Qvine Agbum moved a motion to bring in the portrait of Waku on the floor of the House of Assembly and was seconded by his deputy, Sule Audu.
