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The Nigerian Senate, under the leadership of Godswill Akpabio, has been accused of neglecting the family of the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who represented Anambra South Senatorial District. According to sources, the Senate did not form a committee to coordinate with the bereaved family or the national burial committee, raising concerns about a lack of support.
Ubah, who was re-elected to the 10th Senate under the Young Progressives Party in 2023 but later joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), passed away in London on July 27, 2024. He was laid to rest on Friday in his hometown, Otolo Nnewi, Anambra State.
Despite a Senate valedictory session held on November 19, sources revealed that the leadership failed to engage with the burial committee or offer financial contributions. Additionally, no formal delegation was sent to the burial to represent the Senate.
A source disclosed:
“Despite the public display during the valedictory session, the Senate leadership abandoned their late colleague, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who died while serving as a senator. They neither contributed financially nor participated in the burial arrangements. Out of 109 senators, only nine attended the burial, and most were from the South-East region.”
Notable attendees at the burial included Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, and Senator Victor Umeh. However, only two of the attending senators came from regions outside the South-East.
Another source added that Senate Minority Whip Osita Ngwu attended due to his personal connection with Ubah and the fact that his wife hails from the same village. Other senators present included Abaribe Enyinnaya, Osita Ngwu, Izunaso, Okey Ezea, Victor Umeh, Benson Agadaga, Tony Nwoye, Pam from Plateau, and Kelvin Chukwu.
“There was no representation from the North-West, North-East, or Yoruba regions, while the South-South and North-Central regions had just one senator each,” another source stated.
The source criticized the Senate’s actions, describing them as “fair-weather friends” who failed to show respect for their deceased colleague.
“In Christian tradition, attending a burial is one of the highest ways to pay last respects. What the Senate leadership did to Senator Ifeanyi Ubah is deeply disappointing.”
It was also alleged that the wife of the Senate President, who heads the Senators’ Wives Forum, did not send condolences or a delegation to the Ubah family. Furthermore, during the burial Mass, no senator spoke on behalf of the Senate, contrary to established norms.
Senator Ubah’s death in London earlier this year was a significant loss for his constituents and the APC. While the Senate honored him in a session prior to his burial, their absence during the actual ceremony has drawn criticism.
Efforts to obtain a response from the Senate leadership were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
