From Magnus Eze, Enugu
Former Minster of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu; Deputy Vice Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja, Prof. Orji Uduma Orji and other personalities have extolled Senator Anyim Ude, one of the founding fathers of Ebonyi State, who passed on recently.
Akaeze community in Ivo Local Government Area, Ebonyi State where the late Igbo leader hailed from described Ude as a patriot and motivator.
Ude, a veteran journalist and ace broadcaster represented Ebonyi South Senatorial District between 2007 and 2011. He passed on May 15, 2023, while a book presentation of his book was held as part of the funeral rites.
The book titled: “A personal odyssey (1960-2011)” written by the late senator was public presented at his community last Sunday.
Ex-minister Chukwu described Ude as a man of integrity, outstanding champion of Ebonyi State and worthy son of Akaeze, saying he was one of the pillars of the old Afikpo bloc.
“I regard him and as a very sophisticated man of integrity who chose to be as simple as possible in his dealings with fellow human being. He is a forthright human being, a man who respected everyone regardless of age, gender or social class but who in turn also attracted a lot of respect from everyone he associated with, a great Nigerian, a great humanist.
“I started hearing about him in the late 80s when I graduated as a medical doctor from the University of Lagos. At that time, we were still in the old Imo State and when I started asking about those that were making their marks in the old Afikpo bloc, one of the names that I came across was Anyim Ude and he was a broadcast journalist then.
“I started following him up that time and saw his upward trajectory and his very rapid progress in the world of journalism, in the world of broadcasting. But once Ebonyi State got created in 1996, that was the opportunity to get close to the man. It was when I started relating with him one-on-one and he took me as his son and mentored me. We became friends and he became my confidant,” he said.
Uduma, who was the book reviewer said the fallen elder statesman empowered people in his community and beyond and that he will be greatly missed.
He called on the people to emulate his legacies stressing that Ude lived and died for unity, integrity and honesty.
He stated that the senator lived a life of service and urged the people to live such life to impact on the people the way the veteran journalist did.
Onetime Chairman of Ivo local government area, Chief Joseph Obasi who hails from Akaeze said the late Ude came into politics and did not allow politics to change him but rather changed it through his selfless service to the community, the state and the country.
He disclosed that he was one of the numerous people that the late technocrat empowered politically, adding that he would surely be missed.