Anayo Okolie
Hon. Ovunda Nsirim was an uncommon politician who exhibited the kind of party loyalty that is rare to find these days. Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State said this yesterday at Rumueme, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, in a funeral oration during the burial of the former member of the House of Representatives.
A release by Wike’s special assistant on electronic media, Simeon Nwakaudu, said the governor advised politicians in the state and Nigeria, generally, to emulate the virtues of the late Nsirim, who represented Obio/Apkor federal constituency in the House of Representatives from 1979 t- 1983.
Wike said Nsirim believed in party supremacy and remained with the Peoples’ Democratic Party in good and bad times, until his death recently at the age of 65. The governor counselled politicians to shun anti-party politics whenever they were not favoured by the collective decisions of a political party, saying such politics hinders political coherence and democratic maturity. He said respect for party supremacy was necessary for the deepening of democracy.
“Ovunda Nsirim never played anti-party whether or not the decision of the party favoured him. He believed in party supremacy,” Wike said, adding, “Ovunda Nsirim was a good man. He deserves a good burial for his contributions to the state.”
He called for unity among the people of Rumueme Kingdom, stressing that the death of Nsirim should serve as an opportunity for them to come together to support one another and promote the collective interest of the community.
In his remarks, former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Chief Okey Wali, SAN, said the late Nsirim would be missed for his commitment to friendship, mentorship and development. He announced that a foundation would be established in honour of the former lawmaker.
In his sermon, Bishop Loveday Peter urged people to look on to Jesus Christ to help in building their lives.
