By Victor Nwachukwu
Owerri, April 21, 2022
A cross-section of Imo State House of Assembly members Thursday paid tribute to late Stanford Onyirimba, who represented Ehime Mbano State Constituency (1999 to 2007) in the state legislature.
They spoke at a valedictory session organised in honour of the deceased, who was a former Majority Leader of the House.
They described him as an astute, fearless politician and lawmaker.
The Speaker of the House, Mr. Kennedy Ibeh, said that Onyirimba died at a time his wealth of experience was needed by his constituents and the state.
Ibeh said that the late lawmaker was popular for always standing fearlessly for his people, when it mattered most.
Another member, representing Ehime Mbano constituency, Mr Anthony Nduka, said that Onyirimba was a renowned democrat, who was passionately loved by his people.
According to Nduka, Onyirimba was the longest serving majority leader in the history of the state assembly.
He said that the deceased made his constituency benefit from democracy dividends, including the creation of several autonomous communities and political wards.
Nduka said that Onyirimba lived a fulfilled life and would be missed by the less privileged.
“The late Onyirimba, having contested the office of governor in 2007, remained a great leader and household name, whom we will dearly miss,” he said.
Also speaking, the Interim Management Committee Chairman of Ehime Mbano Local Government Area, Mr Chidi Okechukwu, said that Onyirimba was diligent in his duties.
He regretted that the late lawmaker did not live long enough to witness the gains of some of the ideas he initiated in the area.
Okechukwu admonished youths of the area to emulate the virtues of the deceased who, he said, played politics with love and believed in mentorship.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Onyirimba, who was born on May 22, 1959, died on March 11, following a brief illness.
