The remains of a former member of House of Assembly in the old Anambra State, Dr. Ernest Madu Onyekwena, has been laid to rest in Ufuma, Orumba North Local Goverment Area of the state.
Angel Network News (ANN) reports that the late former lawmaker who was born in 1946 into the family of Onyekwena of Umuenebu village, was an Engineer and Knight of the Anglican Church and held the traditional titles of “Omekannaya 1 of Ufuma” and “Enebu of Umuenebu”.
As Anambra second republic legislator in 1983, the deceased was said to have used his position as Chairman, House Committee on Tertiary Education, to influence citing of the second campus of the then Anambra State Polytechnic, now Federal Polytechnic, Oko, at Ufuma.
In his sermon during church service at the late Engr. Onyekwena’s compound, Ufuma, Rt Rev. Samuel Ezeofor of Aguata Anglican Diocese, who spoke on “Plans and providence”, reminded all gathered that life on earth is brief and more fragile than one can think of, saying it is foolishness for man to make plans in life without divine providence, as death is certain for all human beings.
Speaking after interment, the first son of the deceased, Dr. Obinna Onyekwena, described his father as one who dedicated his life in service to God and humanity, and with passion for education, food security and youth empowerment, adding that he has been greatly influenced by his father’s generosity, honesty and fairness to all people.
On his part, an indigenous Anglican priest and retired Deputy Director of Programmes in ABS, Reverend Canon Basil Orji, said the deceased was a renowned christian, philanthropist, educationist and a man down to earth, urging his children to keep the legacies of their father.
The Aguata Anglican Diocesan Council of Knights in their tribute read by a former member of the Anambra State House of Assembly who represented Orumba North Constituency, Sir Uchenna Ogbonna described their late colleague, Engr. Onyekwena as a gift of God to humanity and prayed God to grant his soul eternal rest.
ANN recall that last Thursday, the Anambra 8th assembly at plenary held a valedictory session for late Dr. Ernest Madu Onyekwena who represented Orumba North Constituency.
Late Onyekwena served as a Chairman house committee on Education during his time at the house of Assembly.
