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‘Prove 100 Senators Attended Ubah’s Burial’ – Family Challenges Senator

Published

1 month ago

Nov 26, 2024.

The family of the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah has called on the Nigerian Senate to provide pictorial or video evidence to substantiate claims of significant attendance at the burial events of their departed colleague.

Senator Ubah, who served as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream, passed away on July 26, 2024. Reports alleging inadequate Senate representation at his burial have sparked a public dispute between the family and the legislature.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that responding to the allegations, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, refuted the claims in a statement, asserting that the Senate accorded Senator Ubah all the rites and honors befitting a serving member.

However, a family member speaking to SaharaReporters on Monday described the Senate’s claims as misleading, stating that contrary to assertions of 100 senators attending the night of tribute held at the NAF Event Centre in Abuja, fewer than 30 senators were present.

The family further criticized the Senate’s representation at the burial in Nnewi on November 22, 2024, asserting that only nine out of 109 senators attended, which accounted for just 8.2% of the chamber. They insisted that seven of the attendees were from the Southeast, with one each from the South-South and North-Central regions.

The family accused the Senate of failing to coordinate with the burial organizing committee or contribute financially to the burial arrangements. “Let the Senate Spokesman list the names of senators who attended the burial or provide evidence to refute these facts,” a family member challenged.

The statement also referenced Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s attendance at the wedding of Senator Victor Umeh’s daughter in Lagos on August 17, 2024. The family noted that although Akpabio visited them on the same day, this did not reflect a significant institutional effort to honor Senator Ubah.

Senators Ubah’s Burial Family

On November 19, 2024, the Senate dedicated a legislative session to honor Senator Ubah, decorating his seat with the national flag. However, the family dismissed this as routine protocol for a serving senator who died in office, criticizing the Senate’s overall handling of the burial arrangements.

The Ubah family continues to demand transparency and evidence to counter their claims of poor Senate representation, urging the legislature to substantiate its assertions with verifiable proof.