Ossy Prestige’s family announces burial date, as Femi Gbajabiamila, Ikpeazu expected to lead delegation of government functionaries

The Speaker House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila will on Thursday April 15 lead other members of the Green Chamber of the National Assembly in a valedictory session in honour of deceased Aba North/South Federal Constituency lawmaker, Hon. Ossy Prestige.

This bis even as the House of Representatives Speaker, Gbajabiamila and the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu are expected to lead delegation of members of the National Assembly and the State Executive members respectively to the burial ceremony on Saturday, April 24.

Hon. Chukwu Nnanna, younger brother to the deceased lawmaker who disclosed this on Friday in a Press conference in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State also stated that there will be another valedictory session in honour of the lawmaker by members of the Abia State House of Assembly on Friday April 23 before the corpse of the lawmaker will depart for Abiriba in Ohafia LGA for a wake-keep.

According to Nnanna, there will be what he described as “Forever, Ossy Prestige procession” in Aba North and South Federal Constituency and an inter-denominational church service in Aba on April 21 and 24^th respectively.

He said that the body of the late lawmaker will be laid to rest on April 24 at Akahaba Central Stadium after a funeral service by the Presbyterian Church, stating that all COVID-19 protocols will be strictly observed.

Also speaking, his wife, Rev. Mrs. Precious Ossy Prestige, urged members of the public to make sure that they attend the funeral service of her husband, adding that arrangements have been put in place to ensure that the event was successful.

Also on Friday, the leadership of Old Bende Progressive Union (OBPU), Abia South zone on paid condolence visit to the wife of the late lawmaker.

Old Bende comprised of the people in Abia North and Umuahia part of Abia Central Senatorial zones of the state.

Led by the traditional ruler of Umuosu Okaiuga Nkwoegwu in Umuahia North Local Government, Eze Nzenwata Mbakwe, OBPU described the late lawmaker as one of its bonafide members who contributed immensely to the development of Aba in particular and Abia in general.

Speaking through Deputy Inspector General of Police retired, Azubuko Uda, OBPU described Hon Prestige’s death as a big blow to his constituents.

“When Hon Prestige was alive, he identified with everything Aba and the people loved him as a result of this, so much so that he won elections even while in a minority party.

“He did what his contemporaries could not do even within the political circle, leaving legacies that will be difficult to match in the process”.

Eze Mbakwe described the lawmaker’s death as a tragedy and said it will be difficult for residents of Aba to overcome it.

The monarch urged the immediate family members of Prestige to bear the loss with fortitude.

Widow of the late lawmaker, Rev (Mrs) Precious Ossy Prestige who said she was yet to overcome the shock of her husband’s death, thanked the OBPU leadership for coming to commensurate with the family and urged them to participate actively in the burial.