Emotions as Reps hold valedictory session for late members
The House of Representatives yesterday held a valedictory session for five of its members who have died since the inauguration of the 10th Assembly in 2023.
The deceased members are: Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga, Abdulkadir Jelani Danbuga, Isa Dogonyaro, Olaide Adewale Akinremi, and Ekene Abubakar Adams.
It was an emotional moment for the lawmakers as they reflected on some of the times they spent with their colleagues in the hallowed Green Chamber of the National Assembly.
The valedictory session also coincided with this year’s celebration of International Children’s Day with a student of Government Secondary School, Luke Lawal Haruna Sani, serving as the shadow Speaker.
During the valedictory session, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas said the passing of the members left a pain in the hearts of their colleagues and a void in the deliberations of the House.
The Speaker noted that each of the late members “served with distinction, passion, and tireless dedication to their country and constituents”.
He added: “Although their voices now fall silent, the ideals they championed continue to resonate within these walls and the communities they tirelessly served and uplifted.”
Commenting on individual members who passed away, the Speaker recalled that Onanuga’s unwavering advocacy for women’s empowerment and education transformed countless lives in Ogun State.
He said: “Her electoral triumphs were only surpassed by her generosity of spirit and her willingness to nurture emerging leaders.”
Commenting on Danbuga’s time in the House, Abbas recalled that the late lawmaker exemplified quiet humility.
The Speaker noted that though the late lawmaker’s tenure was brief, his devotion to Isa/Sabon Birni Federal Constituency of Sokoto State was steadfast, proving that true impact rests not on years served but on the courage shown each day.
He said Dogonyaro brought rigorous integrity to every committee he served in: from National Security to Public Health, “reminding us that leadership often speaks most powerfully through action rather than words”.
Abbas said the late Akinremi, popularly called Jagaban, exhibited an entrepreneurial vision, commerce, and community service, illustrating how public office could ignite innovation for the common good.
The Speaker recalled that Ekene Adams, “whose youthful vigour on the football field shaped his legislative zeal, taught us that the spirit of teamwork and resilience is as vital in the chamber as on the pitch”.
He added: “Their collective legacy compels us to remember that our authority here on earth is neither a birthright nor an end in itself but a sacred trust borrowed for a moment in history.
“As the American philosopher William James admonished: ‘The greatest use of a life is to spend it on something that will outlast it.’
“Another thinker reminds us that ‘life becomes more meaningful when we realise the simple fact that we will never get the same moment twice’.”
Deputy Minority Leader Aliyu Sani Madaki nearly broke down in tears as he read his tribute to the late Dogonyaro, while Akrinremi’s wife fought back tears as she praised the House for honouring her husband and the others.
A former Speaker, Patricia Etteh, recalled her last moment with the late Onanuga a few days before she passed away, recalling that she had scheduled to meet with her over her health condition.
Etteh described the late Onanuga as a dedicated and hard-working person who fought her way to the limelight through hard work, dedication, and loyalty.
