Nwosu, APC National Welfare Secretary Laid to Rest Amidst Rain of Tributes

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

The remains of the National Welfare Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Friday Nwosu, were committed to mother earth yesterday amidst outpouring of tributes by political associates and friends across the nation

Both the national and the Abia State APC leaderships defied the rain and were fully represented at the requiem mass officiated by the Catholic Bishop of Aba Diocese, Most Rev. Augustine Echema, at the country home of the late politician in Mgboko Umuoria, Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State

The National Chairman of APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, was represented by the Deputy National Chairman South, Emma Eneukwu, who was at the Head of a high powered delegation of the National Working Committee (NWC) members.

Adamu described the late National Welfare Secretary as “a resourceful member of the NWC, a great man who lived his life creditably,” adding that the party leadership has been in mourning since the news of his death was received.

The APC National Chairman in his tribute also noted that the late Nwosu was a man of “personal integrity who was committed to the success of our party in every facet.”

The governorship candidate of Abia APC in the 2023 general election, High Chief Ikechi Emenike, led a team of party faithful, including the state chairman, Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu, Secretary, Chief Chidi Avaja and other members of the State Working Committee (SWC).

In his remarks, Emenike noted that though Nwosu, who was the first Abian to be a member of the NWC of the ruling APC, has departed to meet his maker, the life he lived would continue to bear good testimony for him.

He said: “We shall keep thanking God for F.N. Nwosu’s life of honesty, integrity and loyalty. FN was not a double dealer, unlike many Abia State so-called politicians.

“Both in private and in public he (Nwosu) was dedicated to a course of action once he had come to believe in it. His kind is uncommon.”

From Bayelsa State, the Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo led a state delegation which included the former governor, Senator Seriake Dickson, who represents Bayelsa West in the Red Chamber.

Ewhrudjakpo declared that Nwosu was more Bayelsa than Abia, adding that he had a long relationship with the South-south state hence “he lived his life for Bayelsa, in Bayelsa and with Bayelsa.”

While noting that late Nwosu “lived his life for others and that’s why we shall miss him greatly,” the Bayelsa number two citizen assured the family of the deceased that Bayelsa would always give them a shoulder to lean on.

Senator Dickson in his tribute “to my friend who became my brother” stated that his relationship with the late Nwosu started over 30 years ago and promised to sustain the relationship with the family.

“He (Nwosu) was a good, one who bore good fruits, a great man, a very honourable man,”  he recounted with an emotion laden voice.

The Catholic Bishop of Aba, Bishop Echema said that the entire Diocese was “in deep mourning in our hearts” over the death of Nwosu, who was a Knight of the church and did a lot for the church, including offering legal services free of charge.

He said that Nwosu lived out his nickname “Ikpeghebighi”(one who cannot be influenced with money) and didn’t abandon that principle till death.

The Principal of Sacred Heart College Aba, Very Rev. Obinna Achilihu, in his homily said that from his vantage position of being very close to Nwosu and family, the deceased was a man who loved God and lived a very humble life.

 “He was a dogged fighter, who put God at the centre of his political position, a man of unshakeable character, a man who says it as it is, and a man you cannot buy over.”

The first son of the late politician, Pastor Chibuzor Nwosu, described his father as “the only hero he knew and one of the best gifts that God gave me.”

He said that his late father was not born with either a silver or a golden spoon but worked hard and with God on his side achieved greatness.