Ex-Minister, Ewuga buried amidst eulogies
By our reporter
The remains of the former Minister for State of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT and the first civilian Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Sen. Solomon Akku Ewuga, who died on Sept. 24, was on Saturday laid to rest in his hometown, Alushi community of Nassarawa-Eggon Local Government Area of the state.
Aged 70, Ewuga died in an Egyptian hospital where he was receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment.
He was buried at approximately 2:30 p.m. in his family compound after the funeral service at the Evangelical Reformed Church of Christ, ERCC, Alushi.
Ewuga was a Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under former president Olusegun Obasanjo, and a senator who represented Nasarawa North Senatorial District of Nasarawa State in the 7th National Senate.
Dignitaries that attended the funeral prayers were the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in 2023, Peter Obi, Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, first civilian governor of the state, Labaran Maku, former Minister of Information, and Sen. Umaru Al-Makura.
Also in attendance were religious and traditional leaders, all former deputy governors of Nasarawa State, the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, Joshua Dariye, Mrs Josephine Piyo, the Deputy Governor of Plateau State, and Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, Zephaniah Jisalo.
Friends and associates of the former minister, present and former state and national assembly members from Nasarawa and Plateau States, among others, were also on the ground to pay their last respects to the deceased.
Speaking at the service, Gov. Sule described the deceased as a man who dedicated his life to the service of God and humanity.
He explained that the deceased was a global citizen who related with everyone freely, irrespective of religion or tribal affiliations, and who believed in mentoring the younger generation.
“Whenever Ewuga visits me is to ask for one thing or the other for others or a community and not for himself, ” according to Sule.
The governor said that Ewuga died when his wise counsel and experience to transform the state were needed most and promised to continue to support the family he left behind.
Earlier, the former Minister of Information, Maku who spoke on behalf of the former Deputy Governors of the state, described the death as a personal loss and a great loss to the Eggon nation, the state and the entire country.
Maku used the medium and called on leaders to be united and prioritise the interests of the state and the people, and desist from politics that bring destruction and division.
“This is the third former deputy governor we are burying, and I pray that this one will teach us something to know the emptiness of life to unite and develop the state and the current for the sake of our people.
Earlier, Josephine Dokotri-Ewuga, wife of the deceased, described him as a lovely husband and father who always wanted to help the vulnerable in society to make their lives worthwhile.
She explained that her husband was paying school fees to a lot of children at various levels of education, and he would do everything possible to ensure that he helps the children whose parents do not have anything to do in life.
The deceased wife said that her husband lived a good life and she is not in doubt that he is resting at the bosom of the Lord Jesus Christ.
She therefore appreciated the state government, friends, family members and the associates of her husband for standing by them during their trying moments and prayed to God to bless them all.
