Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume has urged the Senate to back the appointment of Ifeanyi Ubah’s widow to take over her late husband’s position as the representative of Anambra South Senatorial District.
Ndume made this plea on Tuesday, November 19, during a valedictory session held in honor of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who passed away in July at the age of 52 after a brief illness in a London hospital.
Before his death, Ubah, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), chaired the Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream.
Senator Kawu Sumaila from Kano South has since been appointed as his interim replacement.
During the session, Ali Ndume proposed that Ubah’s wife should assume the senatorial seat to preserve her late husband’s legacy.
The senator pointed out past instances where the spouses or relatives of deceased senators continued their political work.
Ndume said, “It happened before. Chuba Okadigbo was a great politician. When he died, years after, his wife, the widow Margery, sitting around here.
“Our first lady, Oluremi Tinubu, came to the Senate by the virtue of the people of Lagos and her husband who is the president who served two terms… They insisted that she should go for third term. In fact, she told me that her dream was to be a pastor.
“Abiru’s father was a great senator in 1979. Right here is Yar’Adua? Everybody knows Yar’Adua (Katsina Central Senator).
“Senator (Iyabo) Obasanjo, if you remember, is the daughter of General Obasanjo. Sitting in front of me is Dafinone, his father, was a great senator.”
Addressing the Senate, Ndume appealed for unity in supporting Ubah’s widow, describing her as a capable and committed individual.
“Finally, Mr. President, my appeal to you and distinguished colleagues, his wife, fortunately, is 50 years or so, a wonderful wife.
“Let us support the family to have a spirit representative of Ifeanyi here in the chamber when election of Anambra of the senatorial district that he represents.
“What I want to appeal to you, Mr President, is, let us keep his spirit, aspirations of ifeanyi alive,” Mr Ndume added.
KanyiDaily recalls that Senator Ali Ndume was recently removed as the Senate Chief Whip after criticizing President Bola Tinubu’s handling of the country.