Ben Ezechime
The Nsukka Journalists Forum (NJF), comprising media practitioners from across Nsukka Cultural zone of Enugu State have expressed deep shock over the passing of Distinguished Senator Okechukwu Ezea (aka Ideke), who until his death, represented the good people of Enugu North Senatorial District of Enugu State.
The media professionals, in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Benson Ezugwu and Secretary, Felix Abugu respectively made available to Journalists, decried the news of the sudden passing of Senator Ezea.
They described the senator as an NJF partner and strong voice for the Nsukka Cultural zone in the 10th Senate, adding “the news came to us as the most shocking and saddening news in recent time. “
“We recall that, only last month, precisely on October 2, 2025, Senator Ezea was the Chief Guest of Honour at the 2025 NJF Annual Convention held at the Jerry Mariot Hotel, Nsukka, though represented by Honorable Ikechukwu Ezeugwu.
“Although, he was not physically present at that event, his message of hope and promise of a greater legislative activism for Nsukka in the course of his first term in the senate, contained no inkling whatsoever of his imminent journey to the Great Beyond.
“We will however, remember Senator Ezea as a man who ran the good race for God and his people, and the people of Nsukka Cultural Zone. He was an Nsukka torch bearer through and through, ” the statement said.
According to NJF, from the name of his highly successful shipping company, Ideke Shipping Lines, to the core messages in all his political campaigns – from 2007 until 2023, when he eventually won election to the Senate.
“The late Ezea had, perhaps more than any other of his contemporaries, worked all through his life to uplift the status of the Nsukka person in Nigeria’s sociopolitical and economic spheres.
“We appreciate the fact that Ideke did not fight in vain because today, both the land and people of Nsukka zone are no longer pushovers.
‘As we mourn the death of a great man, who shared the same vision with NJF, which is to make Nsukka great, we recognize that death is a debt every human being owes Creation, ” NJF said.
The group said that the demise of Senator Ezea had left a vacuum that would be difficult to fill in the leadership of Nsukka nation.
“A great man; a rare gem; a patriotic Nigerian, who fought all his life for justice, equity and fairness for his people.
“We pray for the repose of his soul and to the Almighty God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss, ” the statement reads.
.Nsukka Journalists mourn Senator Okechukwu Ezea (Ideke)
Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Nsukka Journalists Forum (NJF), comprising media practitioners from across Nsukka Cultural zone of Enugu State have expressed deep shock over the passing of Distinguished Senator Okechukwu Ezea (aka Ideke), who until his death, represented the good people of Enugu North Senatorial District of Enugu State.
The media professionals, in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Benson Ezugwu and Secretary, Felix Abugu respectively made available to Journalists, decried the news of the sudden passing of Senator Ezea.
They described the senator as an NJF partner and strong voice for the Nsukka Cultural zone in the 10th Senate, adding “the news came to us as the most shocking and saddening news in recent time. “
“We recall that, only last month, precisely on October 2, 2025, Senator Ezea was the Chief Guest of Honour at the 2025 NJF Annual Convention held at the Jerry Mariot Hotel, Nsukka, though represented by Honorable Ikechukwu Ezeugwu.
“Although, he was not physically present at that event, his message of hope and promise of a greater legislative activism for Nsukka in the course of his first term in the senate, contained no inkling whatsoever of his imminent journey to the Great Beyond.
“We will however, remember Senator Ezea as a man who ran the good race for God and his people, and the people of Nsukka Cultural Zone. He was an Nsukka torch bearer through and through, ” the statement said.
According to NJF, from the name of his highly successful shipping company, Ideke Shipping Lines, to the core messages in all his political campaigns – from 2007 until 2023, when he eventually won election to the Senate.
“The late Ezea had, perhaps more than any other of his contemporaries, worked all through his life to uplift the status of the Nsukka person in Nigeria’s sociopolitical and economic spheres.
“We appreciate the fact that Ideke did not fight in vain because today, both the land and people of Nsukka zone are no longer pushovers.
‘As we mourn the death of a great man, who shared the same vision with NJF, which is to make Nsukka great, we recognize that death is a debt every human being owes Creation, ” NJF said.
The group said that the demise of Senator Ezea had left a vacuum that would be difficult to fill in the leadership of Nsukka nation.
“A great man; a rare gem; a patriotic Nigerian, who fought all his life for justice, equity and fairness for his people.
“We pray for the repose of his soul and to the Almighty God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss, ” the statement reads.
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