GOVERNOR Samuel Ortom of Benue State and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Emmanuel Jime yesterday mourn the loss of Senator Joseph Waku.
Waku, according to the family source was admitted to the National Hospital, Abuja on Saturday and died Sunday evening at the age of 73.
Ortom in a condolences message described the death of Senator Waku as a monumental loss to the state and the country at large.
The governor in a condolences message said Senator Waku was his mentor and uncle who was a defender of the common man and was also known for forthrightness, courage and love for fellow human beings.
He said Senator Waku was one of his ardent supporters who encouraged him to face the task of governance at very difficult moments.
The Governor stated that Waku made numerous sacrificial contributions to Nigeria and Benue State, in particular, adding that Waku was a man who promoted unity, equity, peace and justice for all Nigerians irrespective of ethnicity, religion and political leaning.
Ortom described the death of Senator Waku as quite painful to the government and people of Benue as well as prayed God to grant his gentle soul eternal rest and his family the strength to bear the loss.
In the same vein, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Emmanuel Jime described Waku as one of the greatest leaders of the Minda axis in particular and Benue State in general.
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Jime said, ‘Sen JKN Waku, a statesman and distinguished patriot, was like a father to me and several others in Benue.
Part of the statement personality signed by Jime said Waku fought hard for the sustenance and advancement of democracy, while he represented the zone B district at the Senate from 1999-2003.
” His legislative career shot him to national limelight and cast him among the most notable politicians of this post-military era.
“He spoke truth to power and never failed to rise to the challenges of northern regional unity and the country at large.
“He was a leading opinion leader in the North on issues of governance and carried out with diligence and brilliance any national task he was given.
“His forthright interventions endeared him to many in Nigeria and the world and made him the pride of Benue.
“His abiding wish was to see a greater future for Benue and the country at large, a dream I and several others of his political children share today.
“His sudden death is painful to me especially, but I implore the Waku family to take solace in the fact that all lives, no matter how illustrious, belong to the almighty God, to whom, we must all return in due time,” the APC governorship candidate said.
Senator Waku was elected into the Senate in 1999 to 2003 representing the Benue North-West senatorial district.
Waku was a devout Catholic, the Senator was said to have taken ill on Saturday and was referred to the National Hospital, where he was being treated for an undisclosed ailment before he passed out in the process.
Until his death, Waku was the chairman, governing board of Federal University of Agriculture Akure
Waku came to limelight with his famous interview he granted the defunct Tell Magazine a few months of the enthronement of democracy where he said, ‘we want coup now’.
Born on June 12, 1946, at Waku Village, Iga in Guma LGA of Benue State and married with children.
Waku attended Obi Primary School, Nasarawa State, London Tutorial University College, London University, London Institute of Public Relations.
He was a member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and Director of Research and Publicity, Nigeria Peoples Party, NPP, 1979 as well as Board member Plateau Publishing Company in 1980.
In 1983, he was elected member of Benue State House of Assembly. He became director of the Publicity, Dr Nnamdi Azikwe for President; National dir: Operation, Saraki for President, 1992; Benue Co-ordinator, Abiola for President, 1993; Zonal Leader, Abiola for President, Benue, Plateau, Kogi and Kwara States.
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