by George Ozalla
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Friday led members of the Senate of Nigeria and other dignitaries to pay their last respects to Senator Okechukwu Ezea, who was buried in his hometown of Itchi, Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The burial ceremony attracted serving and former federal lawmakers, political leaders, traditional rulers, community stakeholders and constituents who gathered to honour the late senator’s life, public service and contributions to national development.
Speaking during a condolence visit to the family, Akpabio said the late lawmaker was widely respected in the Senate and remembered for his disciplined approach to legislative work. He told the family that their father earned the admiration of his colleagues and left a mark through his service and personal conduct.
He assured the family that the Senate would continue to identify with them and acknowledged the sense of loss felt not only by the National Assembly but also by the people of Enugu North Senatorial District and the wider Nsukka zone.
Akpabio also extended condolences to the Itchi community, noting that the late senator’s life reflected commitment to public service and community development.
Senator Ezea represented Enugu North Senatorial District in the 10th Senate on the platform of the Labour Party, following his election in the 2023 general election. During his tenure, he played active roles in legislative oversight and policy work and served as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Cooperation and Integration in Africa and NEPAD, while also contributing to other committee assignments.
Born on August 11, 1963, Ezea was a lawyer, businessman and long-standing political actor in Enugu State. His political career spanned decades, during which he contested the governorship of Enugu State and participated actively in party development and public affairs. He was also appointed Chairman of the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, where he contributed to administrative leadership in the federal health institution.
Senator Okechukwu Ezea died on November 18, 2025, at the age of 62, after a brief illness. His death brought to a close his tenure in the National Assembly and marked the end of a political career defined by persistence, constituency engagement and national legislative service.
