By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Nsukka Journalists Forum (NJF) has mourned Sen. Ayogu Eze, former Senator representing Enugu North Senatorial Zone, which is within the Nsukka cultural zone of Enugu State.

“Sen. Eze demise has left a vacuum among members of the Forum,” the Chairman of NJF, Mr Benson Ezugwu, said in a statement on Sunday in Enugu.

The statement said that It was with deep shock and utter disbelief that “we, the members of the Nsukka Journalists Forum received the news of the demise of our dear brother, colleague and member, Distinguished Sen. Eze, who died on Thursday, April 25, 2024.”

According to the statement, there is no gainsaying that his death has left a vacuum in NJF as we the younger generation in the forum still looked up to him to tap from his vast experiences in journalism and politics.

It said: “Sen. Eze was a consummate journalist and politician, who had passion and untiring interest in the development of Nsukka as a Cultural Zone.

“While as a Senator representing Enugu North Senatorial district, he fought relentlessly for the creation of Adada State.

“The effort led him into facilitating the location of Voice FM in Nsukka and also initiated moves for a Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) station to be located in Nsukka.

“He also facilitated the employment of many of our youths in several media houses in Nigeria. He did all these within his first four years in the senate and in his position as the Chairman of Senate Committee on Information.”

It said that Sen. Eze made valid contributions to the growth of Nigerian democracy through his incisive comments and motions on the floor of the Senate.

“He proved his journalistic acumen as the Chairman of Senate Committee on Information as he always gave the press clear and concise analysis of developments in the Senate.

“His early death at 66 therefore is but a monumental loss to, not only NJF but the entire Nsukka Cultural Zone.

“The Senator is simply irreplaceable.

“We take solace in the fact that he made his humble contributions to the growth of humanity. May his soul will find eternal rest, Amen,” it added.