Dignitaries from Enugu State and other parts of the country on Tuesday held a Night of Tributes in honour of Senator Okey Ezea in Enugu.
Senator Ezea, who represented Enugu North Senatorial District in the Senate, died on November 18, 2025, in the United Kingdom while receiving treatment.
Chairman of the occasion and former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Nnia Nwodo, said Ezea lived by his convictions and remained committed to public service.
“Okey Ezea was humble and connected with every part of Nsukka, especially the downtrodden. He did not impose himself on the people. He understood that politics was deeply flawed, yet he engaged in it to make a difference,” Chairman Nwodo said.
He said the late senator joined politics to serve and continued his efforts even after his bid to govern Enugu State was unsuccessful.
Nwodo urged Ezea’s children to uphold their father’s legacy.
Chairman of the National Burial Committee, Senator Victor Umeh, said Ezea contributed to public life in Enugu State.
Former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, said the late senator supported the agitation for the creation of Adada State and worked to mobilise backing for the proposal.
Ezea was born on August 11, 1963, to James Ezea of Itchi, Igbo-Eze South and Theresa Ezea of Nsukka Urban.
He co-founded the All Progressives Congress in Enugu State in 2013 and was the party’s governorship candidate in 2015.
In 2018, he was appointed chairman of the governing board of the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo. He resigned in 2022 and joined the Labour Party, where he secured the senatorial ticket and was elected senator for Enugu North on February 25, 2023.
The burial has been scheduled for Friday, February 13, in Itchi, Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area of Enugu State.
Among those in attendance were Deputy Governor of Enugu State Ifeanyi Ossai, Senator Victor Umeh, Chris Ngige, Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly Uche Ugwu, APC caretaker committee chairman in Enugu State Ben Nwoye, Osita Ogbu, former Minister of State Fidelia Njeze, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Simon Ortuanya, Chairman of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council Ikechukwu Asadu, Austin Akubue, Senator Chuka Utazi and Matthias Omeh, among others.
