Hon. Ossy Prestige, Cosmos mourn Ogunji’s death

The member representing Aba North and South federal constituency in the National Assembly, Rtn. Hon. Ossy Prestige has condoled the family of late Solomon Ogunji; Abia State Commissioner for Environment who died on Sunday morning, at the Abia State Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba.

Prestige, who is the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) party leader in Aba North and South, in a condolence message that he personally signed said Ogunji’s death is a huge loss to the Ndoki (Ukwa East) people and the state at large.

“I received with shock the news of the sudden death of my brother and friend, Dr Solomon Ogunji, the Abia State Commissioner of Environment and member, COVID-19 enforcement team.

“This kind of news resonates the generational unanswered question; what is this life?

“The loss occasioned by his death is unquantifiable to the Ndoki people in particular and Abia State at large.

“On behalf of my family and the good people of Aba North and South Federal Constituency, our prayers and thoughts are with the Ogunjis and the good people of Ndoki, in Ukwa East LGA.

Our deepest condolences are to the Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu and his cabinet.

“May his soul rest in peace and may the good Lord give us the fortitude to bear this irreparable and irreplaceable loss.”

In a related development, the Commissioner for Trade and Investment in the State, Dr. Cosmos Ndukwe has described the death of his Environment counterpart as rude shock.

Ndukwe in a post; *Ogunji, death and the mystery of reality*

Shared on his facebook recalled his last moment with late commissioner colleague at the tennis court of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu only to hear of his (Ogunji’s death) upon returning from the burial of his (Ndukwe’s) late uncle.

Ndukwe described Ogunji as a man with dexterity, a strong voice, one who would never go to bed with grudge in mind against another person and a man who was never afraid of the frontline.

Below is a tribute to Late Ogunji from Dr. Cosmos Ndukwe

*Ogunji, death and the mystery of reality*

Just on Tuesday evening we were together at our Principal’s tennis court, I beckoned on you to join us play, you waved at me that you have appointment with your doctor.

We had scheduled to meet 7am Wednesday May 20. About 7am that Wednesday, you called to excuse yourself as being a little bit under the weather.

By Friday I had travelled to bury my Uncle and would not talk about the meeting till Saturday evening when I came back.

Then the rude shock came early morning Sunday announcing your death. My visit with our other friends to the mortuary and your house confirmed my worst fears. That strong voice is gone.

If death understood how simple Dr Solomon Ogunji took life, he would not have visited him. Here was a man who laced every ‘bitter’ moment with humour.

He may ‘fight’ with you a million times but five million times would he preserve the job. Never have I seen a man who fed his passion and worked with so much dexterity.

Even when he worked on the other side as a staunch member of ‘Otu Onu’ political initiative, he was still a ‘player’ to watch.

Now Chairman of our cherished COMMITTEE and again Chairman of Abia State COVID – 19 Enforcement Sub-Committee, he was never afraid of the frontline. I can bet that Ogunji would never sleep with any form of bitterness against another.

He ‘fights’ and discharges his grievances in quick succession.

It is usually not in my nature to query the will of God. However, I feel pained that a man who seemed to have jocularly demystified death would kick the bucket at the dawn of his stardom.

That, to me is the mystery of reality. This is yet another sad reminder that death has no verifiable method of operation. Onwuamaegbu!

The truth is, Abia and particularly Ukwa Ngwa have lost a great and bold voice. As we all wait to go this way of all mortals, I extend my condolences to his wife and children.

His Ally and friend Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, Members of COMMITTEE and Members of EXCO.

May God grant his soul eternal rest.

*ManofGod*