The family of the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah has reiterated its allegations that the Nigerian Senate failed to provide adequate support for the burial arrangements of the late legislator, who represented Anambra South Senatorial District. These claims have sparked a public dispute with the Senate over its role in the funeral proceedings.

Earlier reports by POLITICS NIGERIA highlighted the Senate leadership’s apparent absence from the funeral, with no key representative sent and no financial contributions made, which the family says goes against traditional expectations.

Allegations Against the Senate

The family has accused the Senate leadership, under President Godswill Akpabio, of neglecting to set up a committee to liaise with the bereaved family or offer financial support for burial logistics. They also criticized the low attendance at the funeral, with only nine out of 109 senators reportedly present.

A family source said, “The claim that 100 senators attended the night of tribute on November 18, 2024, in Abuja is false. Less than 30 senators were present. We challenge the Senate Spokesman to provide video or pictorial evidence to back his claims.”

Senate’s Response

Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, refuted the family’s allegations, stating that the Senate had honored Senator Ubah with a valedictory session attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima and other dignitaries. He further emphasized that the Senate paid its respects by dedicating an entire legislative day to honor the late senator.

Family Rebuttal and Additional Claims

The family, however, found these efforts insufficient and accused the Senate leadership of prioritizing other events over their late colleague’s funeral. They pointed out that on the same day as the funeral in Nnewi, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other senators attended the wedding of a colleague’s daughter in Lagos.

A source from the family revealed, “On August 17, 2024, the Senate President led a delegation of four Senators to the wedding of Senator Victor Umeh’s daughter in Lagos, despite the funeral taking place in Nnewi. He only paid a condolence visit to the Ubah family in Lagos on the same day.”

The family also strongly refuted the Senate’s claim that 100 senators attended the tribute event in Abuja on November 18. “It is a big lie that 100 Senators attended the night of tribute. The senators who attended did not exceed 30, despite the event being held in Abuja,” the family source said.

They further demanded transparency from the Senate, urging it to provide proof of any financial contributions or substantial participation in the burial arrangements.

Context of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah’s Passing

Senator Ubah, a key member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), passed away in July 2024 while in London. His death was widely mourned, given his prominent role as a philanthropist, businessman, and politician.

Call for Clarity

The Ubah family has maintained that the Senate’s actions during the burial lacked the respect due to a serving senator. They continue to call for the Senate Spokesman to present verifiable evidence to address these claims, insisting on accountability to the public.

The Sokoto State, Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto has approved a monthly maintenance allowance of N200,000 for principals of each secondary school across the state.

This announcement was made during the Sokoto State 2025 Citizens Budget Discussion, where former Deputy Governor Chiso Abdullahi appealed for funds to cover immediate maintenance needs.

The approved allowance will enable school principals to repair minor damages to infrastructure and other items without waiting for lengthy government approvals.

This will facilitate the mobilization of carpenters, masons, and other workers to carry out necessary repairs whenever needed.

According to Abubakar Bawa, Chief Press Secretary to the governor, the N200,000 monthly allowance will be paid to each school principal across the 23 local government areas, starting January 2025.

“Before I call the next speaker, let me inform this honourable gathering that the governor, in line with the appeal made by the former deputy, has approved N200,000 for each school principal every month. The payment will commence in January 2025 and will cover all secondary schools across the 23 local government areas of the state.” Bawa said.

Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto has also directed the state commissioner for local government affairs, Dadi Adare, to review the allowances of traditional rulers in the state and make necessary adjustments to reflect current economic realities.

A 19-year-old student, Miss Ifeoluwa Adeyemi, has shared how staying focused and avoiding distractions helped her emerge as the best graduate in the 2023/2024 academic session at Wesley University, Ondo State.

Adeyemi, who graduated with a degree in microbiology, achieved a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.97.

Speaking to PUNCH Online after the university’s 13th convocation ceremony on Saturday, Adeyemi explained that having a boyfriend during her undergraduate studies would have distracted her.

She said, “Well, I had discussed this with several people, and they told me that it depends on your perspective. But for me, I see it as a distraction because I cannot divide my attention. A boyfriend might demand my time, and I wouldn’t be able to put my full effort into my studies.”

She also mentioned that her core motivation throughout her academic journey was the desire to make her parents proud.

“First, I have parents I cannot disappoint. That was always on my mind. Whenever I felt distracted, I reminded myself that my parents were out there, and I needed to make them proud,” she said.

Additionally, Adeyemi’s goal of making a positive impact in the health sector drove her to dedicate herself to microbiology, a field that studies microorganisms related to diseases and health.

“I needed to focus on my course. Microbiology is one of the areas that deals with health, and I knew I had to put more effort into understanding it,” she said.

Adeyemi also revealed her ambition to further her education by pursuing a Master’s degree and a PhD in the future.

“The next step is to further my education — a Master’s and then a Ph.D. I want to become a researcher,” she said.

In his address, the Vice Chancellor of Wesley University, Professor Sunday Obeka, highlighted the institution’s commitment to holistic education rooted in the Wesleyan tradition. He encouraged the graduates to uphold the values of excellence, integrity, and service in their future endeavours.

PUNCH