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Evening of tribute’s scheduled for April 14th
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Federal Government as well as the Delta State Government have been called upon to immortalise former member of the House of Representatives late Cairo Ojuogboh (64) who slumped and died February 8, 2024 while watching the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-final encounter between Nigeria and South Africa.
The burial organizing committee under the supervision of elder statesman, Edwin Clark, stated this while briefing journalists in Abuja on Friday about the Proposed Programme of Activities which include National evening of Tributes in honour of Ojuogboh scheduled for Sunday, 14th, April 2024.
The burial organizing committee chaired by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and has Senator Abubakar Gada as the second chairman, are saddled with the responsibility of giving Ojuogboh a befitting burial.
Addressing news men at the conference, Gada described late Ojuogboh as an enigma, a personality, who will be sorely missed by the nation.
“He was a nationalist. Ojuogbo had no tribe, he had no ethnicity, he had no boundary.
“When he suddenly passed on, it was with shock and disbelief which we are still battling to come to terms with that reality.
“Cairo was a household name in Nigerian politics, Cairo was a friend. We miss you Cairo and we will continue to miss you.
“He has had his life dedicated to building bridges and reconciling the community, societies and indeed the nation tirelessly. God will surely give the family the fortitude to bear this loss.”
In response to a question on whether the Federal Government should immortalise him, he stated that Ojuogboh by his status is inherently immortalised and that future generations would continue to think back on his life and the sacrifices he made for humanity as a politician, parliamentarian, and medical professional.
“So, coming to specifics, Cairo is from Anioma in Delta state, he crisscrossed this nation in his effort to make society not only harmonious but consciously, development-oriented.”
Gada urged the Delta State government to immortalise Ojuogboh by using infrastructure or facilities in the health sector.
“I will also call on the Delta State House of Assembly to immortalise, in addition to whatever respect, they will accord Dr. Cairo, they as parliamentarian should immortalise him by having facility, state assembly facility, in Delta state named after him.
“Ojuogboh died during the semi final match of the African Cup of Nations, we have had loses but the most expensive and costly to the nation was that of Ojuogboh.
“And so, sport family and the sport sector is hereby invited to immortalise, Dr Ojuogboh as a nationalist, patriot and a sport promoter and fan who believed in the unity that is guaranteed in sports and sportsmanship activities in the country.
“This is because sports happens to be one sector that unifies the nation so easily, so patriotically at all times and it is one thing that has no tribe or religion, or geographical limit. And it’s a reflection of the entirety of what Ojuogboh stood for and believed in.
“He lived and left this country while celebrating Nigeria’s success and victory in this formidable and socio-cultural and psychological sector, sports.
“For this, we call on all, without limits, different levels of government to deservingly, reward and immortalise the name of Dr Cairo so that it will be for eternity.”
