From Chijioke Agwu, Abakaliki
Chief Judge of Ebonyi State Justice Elvis Ngene; former Minister of State for Health Chief Fidelis Nwankwo and former Commissioners of Justice and Information in Ebonyi State Ben Igwenyi and Professor Adeline Idike and other prominent Ebonyi people, last night paid tribute to the late veteran Journalist, ace broadcaster and former Ebonyi South Senator, Anyim Ude.
These eminent personalities paid their tributes at St. Peters Presbyterian church, Kpirikpiri, Abakaliki during a service of songs in honour of the late Ude who passed away on May 15 at 82.
Ude, one of the founding fathers of Ebonyi State, worked in several media establishments during his public service years. He was the Chief Executive Officer of those media houses.
In 2007 Ude was elected a senator to represent Ebonyi South Senatorial District in the National Assembly. He served for four years.
In his tribute during the service, the state Chief Judge, Justice Elvis Ngene described Ude as a man who dedicated his service to people and things of God.
He noted that the late Ude will be greatly missed by the state and the country because of his wealth of experience and contributions to the development of the state and Nigeria.
Former Minister of State for Health, Chief Fidelis Nwankwo, recalled how the late Ude helped him and made the popular Eastern cement factory, Nigercem functional as Commissioner for Commerce and Industry while he(Nwankwo) was General Manager of the cement factory.
On his part, a former Commissioner for Information and State Orientation in the state, Professor Adline Idike, said the late Ude helped her a lot to succeed as Information commissioner owing to his wealth of experience in the media industry while she had no knowledge of the media as the Commissioner.
She noted that the state and Nigeria have lost a great man who will continue to be remembered and called on the living to emulate the selfless service of the late Senator.
In his sermon, the Moderator, East Central Synod of the President Church, Rev. Ikenga Ndukwe urged Christians to focus on the things of God like the late Ude rather than showing much concern for worldly things.
He described the late Senator as a man who impacted humanity and made an enormous contribution to the growth of the church.
The late Ude will be buried this Friday in his country home, Akaeze, Ivo local government area of Ebonyi State.