Prominent Nigerian Senator, representing Abia North Senatorial District, Uche Chukwumerije, is dead.
Chukwumerije died Sunday evening at 75 after a battle with lung cancer, a statement by his family revealed.
“On the evening of Sunday, the 19th of April, 2015, surrounded by his family, Comrade Uche Chukwumerije passed into the open arms of history, and of our Lord Jesus Christ, after a long but gallant battle with lung cancer,” the statement said.
“His life is many volumes, which can only be told with care and time, of dedication and focus, integrity and discipline, and an unbroken love for the highest ideals of our shared humanity.
“Details of burial arrangements will be announced in due course. We ask only for your prayers and good wishes.”
Born in November 1939, the late Senator was elected in April 2003. He had earlier served as Minister of Information under the Military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida. He continued in the Ministry under the Interim National Government of Chief Ernest Shonekan.
As a result of trainings funded by the deceased, his son Chika won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
His other son, Dikeogu Egwuatu Chukwumerije, is a writer and a performance poet. He also hosts the Abuja Literary Society (ALS)’s Night of Spoken Words.
In the Fourth Republic, Chukwumerije was elected to the Senate on the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) platform, but he fell out of favour with the party’s leadership when he opposed the Third Term Agenda.
Chukwumerije eventually decamped to the Progressive Peoples Alliance in 2006, and was re-elected to the Senate on 28th April 2007.
Chukwumerije is divorced with seven children. He studied Economics at the University of Ibadan and was still serving as a Senator at the time of his death.
Last November with his health already failing, he sought for a fourth term but he was defeated by Hon. Mao Ohabunwa who was assisted by the machine of Governor Theodore Orji.
He was represented at the primary contest by his son as he was at that time incapacitated.
