WITH THE RECENT death of the deputy chief whip of the House of Representatives, Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga, the 10th Assembly have been thrown in another unfortunate loss.
Since its inauguration in June 2023, it has lost six of its members to the cold hand of death.
The Explainer found out that the five members of the Green Chamber which is the National Assembly have passed away while the Red Chamber which is popularly known as the Senate recorded one death.
The National Assembly has 469 members, including 360 members of the House of Representatives and 109 senators.
Other members of the National Assembly who kicked the bucket over the last year include Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, Olaide Akinyemi, Isa Dogonyaro, Abdulkadir Danbuga, and Ekene Adams.
Their passing has affected the lives of their constituency members and created a huge vacuum in the legislative chamber.
Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga
Adewunmi Onanuga was announced dead on Wednesday, January 15 by the spokesman of the House, Akin Rotimi. Until her death, she was the deputy chief of the House of Representatives.
She was representing the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency of Ogun State in the Green Chamber before her demise.
She was first elected to the House in 2019 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
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Abdulkadir Danbuga
Abdulkadir Jelani Danbuga, a member of the All Progressives Congress platform representing the Isa/Sabon Birni Federal constituency of Sokoto State, passed away on October 11, 2023, after a brief illness. Two spouses, several children, and grandkids make up Danbuga’s legacy.
President Bola Tinubu said in a statement sent by his media aide, Ajuri Ngelale, that the legislator’s passing left a gap in his immediate family and denied his constituency’s residents high-calibre, unwavering representation in the House of Representatives.
“I offer my condolences to his family, constituents, and the people and government of Sokoto State. I also condole with the presiding officers of the House of Representatives and the entire membership over the devastating loss of an eminent colleague,” Tinubu said.
Ekene Adams
Ekene Adams, a Labour Party representative in the House of Representatives for Kaduna State’s Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, passed away on July 16, 2024, at the age of 39 following a protracted battle with illness.
Adams served as chairman of the House Committee on Sports until his death.
Adams was employed in the sports industry before being elected to the federal legislature. He served as general manager of the Remo Stars in Ogun State and the Kada City Football Club in Kaduna State at various points in time.
Akin Rotimi, the House spokesperson, confirmed his passing in a statement, calling him “a kind philanthropist, passionate sports administrator, and dedicated public servant.”
Additionally, in his condolences, Julius Abure, the National Chairman of LP, said that he was rudely shocked to learn of Adams’ passing.
Isa Dogonyaro
Another member of the House of Representatives, Isa Dogonyaro, passed away in Abuja on May 10, 2024, following an undisclosed illness.
Elected on the APC platform, Dogonyaro represented Jigawa State’s Garki/Babura Federal constituency.
After a court dismissed Aminu Kanta, the victor of the constituency’s primary election, he was deemed the legitimate APC candidate for the House of Representatives in the General Election of 2023.
Dogonyaro served as the House Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Control’s deputy chairperson until his passing.
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Musiliudeen Akinremi
Moreso, in July 2024; Musiliudeen Akinremi, a two-term member of the House of Representatives representing Ibadan North Federal Constituency of Oyo State, died in Abuja.
Akinremi, also known as Jagaban, passed away at age 51. He was the House Committee on Science Research Institutions’ chairman. Akinremi was initially elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2023.
Additionally, the politician passed away following a brief illness.
Senator Ifeanyi Ubah
On Saturday, July 27, the National Assembly was thrown into mourning with the death of the lawmaker representing Anambra South, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah. Ubah, who was the Chief Executive Officer of Capital Oil, was said to have died in London, the United Kingdom. He would have been 53 on September 3.
The Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, confirmed Ubah’s death to our correspondent on Saturday.
He was the founder of a Nigerian daily newspaper, The Authority. He also founded the Ifeanyi Ubah FC, a football club in the Nigeria Premier League, following its purchase as Gabros International Football Club. He also founded a foundation named after him; Ifeanyi Ubah Foundation.
In 2014, Ubah contested the 2014 Anambra governorship election on the platform of the Labour Party but lost the race.
On February 24, 2019, Ubah was declared the winner of the Anambra South Senatorial elections on the platform of the Young Progressive Party but defected to APC.
