Many prominent Nigerians from different spheres of life, including the Senate President, David Mark, on Friday gathered at Isuochi in Abia to pay their last respect to the late Sen. Uche Chukwumerije.

Chukwumerije was buried in his home town, Ngodo Isuochi, after a funeral service at Wesley Methodist Church, Isuochi, in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia.

In his brief speech, Mark paid glowing tribute to Chukwumerije, describing him as an honest, transparent and excellent parliamentarian.

He further described him as courageous, eloquent and frank on national issues, saying that it would be difficult to find a replacement for him.

The Senate President said that it was difficult for him to believe that Chukwumerije was dead.

He added that the senators found it hard to believe that Chukwumerije would no longer be seated on the floor of the Senate.

“To me, I do not think that Chukwumerije is dead. I think he has gone to sleep and will rise to sleep no more,” Mark said.

He said that the senators would eternally miss him, saying that no fewer than 85 senators, who attended Wednesday’s sitting devoted to him, wanted to speak in his honour.

In his sermon, drawn from Hebrews Chapter 9, verse 27 to 28 and tagged “Judgment”, the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence Sam Uche, urged the people to realise that “there will be judgment at the end of man’s sojourn on earth.”

“Life on earth is ephemeral, it is transient,” he said, urging Nigerians to understand that “every office we occupy has a terminal date.”

Other dignitaries at the service include; former Vice-President, Dr Alex Ekwueme, Governors Rochas Okorocha of Imo and Willie Obiano of Anambra, respectively, and the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Senators who attended the service included; Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekwerenmadu, Senate Leader Ndoma Egba, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Nkechi Nworgu and Chris Ngige.

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, also attended the service.

Others are: The National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, and the governorship candidate of APGA in Abia, Dr Alex Otti.

The President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Garri Enwo-Ighariwe, led other chieftains of the apex Igbo socio-cultural group to the funeral. (NAN)

•Photo by Agwu Okojogho shows Uche Chukeumerije's body being conveyed to church . . . yesterday in Ngodo Isuochi, Abia State.