By Magnus Aluma, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State Chief Judge, Justice Elvis Ngene at a service of songs, paid tribute to late veteran journalist and broadcaster, Senator Anyim Ude.
Other prominent Ebonyi citizens who joined in the tribute at the Service of Songs held on Tuesday in honour of the departed statesman at St. Peters Presbyterian Church, Kpiri Kpiri, Abakaliki were, a former Minister of State for Health, Chief Fidelis Nwankwo, Professor Orji Uduma Orji of the National Open University, NOUN, Abuja and Professors Ben Igwenyi and Adeline Idike, who were commissioners for Justice and Information in the state respectively.
NewsBits recalls that the late Ude was one of the founding fathers of Ebonyi State and worked in several media houses during his public service years. In 2007 Ude was elected a senator to represent Ebonyi South District and served for four years.
He died on May 15 while his funeral rites have already commenced. 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 Ebonyi State and Nigeria.
A former Minister of State for Health, Chief Fidelis Nwankwo also recalled how the late Ude helped him and made popular, the defunct Eastern Cement Factory, Nigercem functional, when he was Commissioner for Commerce and Industry while, himself was General Manager of the cement factory.
He noted that Ude was always leading former military administrator of the state, Walter Feghabor to the cement factory in a bit to make return the factory to its former glory.
On her part, Professor Adline Idike said the late Ude helped her a lot to succeed as the Commissioner owing to his wealth of experience in the media industry while she had no knowledge of the media as the Commissioner for Information.
She regretted that Ebonyi 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.
EarIier in his sermon, the Moderator, East Central Synod of the Presbytharian Church, Rev. Ikenga Ndukwe urged Christians to focus on the things of God, like the late Ude rather than showing much concern on worldly things.
He described the late Senator as a man who impacted on humanity and made 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.
