Anambra lawmaker dies during holiday in South Africa

A member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Nnamdi Okafor, has reportedly died in South Africa.

Okafor, who represents Awka South Constituency 1, is the majority leader of the House.

The two-time lawmaker was said to have slumped in a hotel at Sandton City in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he was attending a statutory training programme of the state’s lawmakers.

A source, who confirmed the incident, said the lawmaker later died on Tuesday after he slumped in the hotel.

Speaking on the demise of Okafor, Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, described the lawmaker’s death as shocking, and a huge loss to the state legislature and the state in general.

Soludo, in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, regretted that Okafor’s death came barely three months after another lawmaker representing Aguata Constituency 2, Okechukwu Okoye, was kidnapped and later beheaded.

The governor said the deceased served his constituency with devotion, energy, and time, adding that he would be sorely missed.

“On behalf of the Anambra State Government, may I use this medium to convey my sympathy to those he left behind, including his family, Awka Constituency 1, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uche Okafor as well as other lawmakers.

“Indeed, life is ephemeral. may the living continue to reflect on the essence of life and live for the good of the society like Dr. Okafor did,” he said.

The Star

Segun Ojo