Senator Otaru Salihu Ohize, who represented the people of Kogi Central Senatorial District in the red chamber of the National Assembly from 2007 to 2011, died today at the National Hospital, Abuja after protracted illness.
Family source would not disclosed the source of the illness, but it was confirmed that for a long time, Senator Ohize, who also served as Chairman of Okene Local Government in Kogi State, had been bedridden.
Senator Ohize was born on February 5, 1953 and was elected Senator for the Kogi Central constituency of Kogi State, Nigeria, taking office on 29 May 2007. He was a member of the Action Congress (AC).
The late Senator Ohize earned a B.Sc. in Political Science from the University of Lagos (1987) and a Master of International Affairs & Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (2003).
He served for fifteen years in the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Navy.
After taking his seat in the Senate in June 2007 he was appointed to committees on Sports, Police Affairs, Interior Affairs, Information & Media, Housing, Commerce and Agriculture.
In a condolence message, the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello expressed shock over the demise of “a selfless leader” and a former Senator of the Federal Republic.
The Governor described the demise of the former Chairman of Okene Local Government Area as a “painful exit of a political General who fought hard for the change we are enjoying in Nigeria and Kogi State”.
He prayed for the repose of the soul of the departed and for the family, the State and the nation to bear the irreparable loss, saying the late Ohize will “forever be honoured in our minds for his selflessness, commitment to good governance and belief in fairness, justice and equity”.
Governor Bello urged the Ebira nation and Kogites in general to bond together in “this moment of great grief and irrecoverable loss”, urging the people to accept the will of God.
He said that his government shall keep defending the ideals the late Ohize held dear, which are development, progress and justice.
Also, the current Senator representing the same Senatorial District, Senator Ahmed Ogembe described the death of the Senator Salihu Ohize as a great loss for people of Ebira Land and Kogi State at large. .
In a statement released immediately after leaving the hospital where the deceased passed away, Senator Ogembe expressed sadness over the demise of a great icon and grassroots mobilizer.
“It was a rude shock with deep sorrow to hear the unexpected and sudden death of Senator Ohize this morning. May God grant our people the fortitude to bear the priceless loss of a political colossus, ‘Rest In Peace’,” he added.
Senator Ogembe asked members of the family, particularly his children, to take solace in the fact that Senator Ohize lived a fulfilled life with remarkable track record of great achievements.
Senator Ogembe, who was among the dignitaries that rushed to the National Hospital Abuja, where the late senator died.
He prayed that God would accept the spirit of the departed soul, and grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.
He noted that the deceased, Ohize, would be greatly missed by all especially the Ebiras in particular and the people of Central senatorial district in general. [myad]
And so HOW did Ohize die?
“Protracted illness” does nothing to help others learn to avert “how”.