The chairman of the Senate Committee on Privatisation, Orji Kalu, has commiserated with the government and people of Enugu over Ayogu Eze’s death.

He died aged 65 after a protected illness.

In a condolence message on Friday in Abuja, Mr Kalu described Eze as a consummate politician and a patriotic Nigerian. He urged the deceased’s family to uphold the late politician’s remarkable deeds.

The former Abia governor acknowledged Mr Eze’s contributions to Nigeria’s democracy in various capacities, adding that the late politician would be remembered for his exemplary leadership qualities.

“I received with sadness the news of the passing of my former colleague in the national assembly, Sen. Ayogu Eze, who represented the people of Enugu North senatorial district in the national assembly from 2007 to 2015.

“He was a complete gentleman who was passionate about the growth and progress of his constituency, Enugu state and Nigeria in general. The late politician was selfless, patriotic and committed to nation-building. His good deeds will continue to speak for him. The late Eze will be greatly missed,” Mr Kalu said.

Mr Kalu prayed to God to grant the late politician eternal rest and his family the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.

Mr Eze, a former spokesperson for the Senate, was born on November 23, 1958.

Similarly, the Enugu council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has expressed shock over the death of Mr Eze.

The NUJ statement said, “It is on a sad note and with rudest shock that the NUJ receives the news of the death of a great communication icon and former senator Representing Enugu North in the National Assembly, Senator Ayogu Eze. Eze was a man of many parts who God used to ensure that many journalists were gainfully employed in federal establishments.

‘’His impact was equally felt by some media organisations, especially the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) when he piloted the affairs of the Senate Committee on Communication and Media in 2007.”

The NUJ added, “Eze was once an erudite journalist that worked with Guardian Newspaper, Newswatch Magazine and was a one-time commissioner for information in Enugu state. His demise shook the media, the political space and the entire Enugu North senatorial zone, especially the people of Enugu Ezike, where he hailed from. It was indeed a black Wednesday.”

(NAN)