In what could be described as a shocking development, a Nigerian senator, Rose Oko, has as died on Monday night at a UK medical facility where she went for treatment.
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Confirming her death in the early hours of Tuesday, the associate, who pleaded anonymity, revealed that he was not authorised to make the announcement.
He disclosed that the deceased lawmaker, who has been away for over four weeks, was battling with high blood pressure.
He described her Senator Oko’s demise as shocking; noting that her condition had improved over the course of time.
Also confirming her death, another senator, Ibrahim Mabai, from Yobe, rued the passing to glory of the lawmaker whose death still comes as a shock to all those who knew her.
The spokesperson of the upper chamber, Godiya Akwashiki, when contacted, said that he could not comment on Senator Oko’s death until there is a directive by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.
The late lawmaker was a second-term member of the Senate and the serving chairman, Senate Committee on Trade and Investment.
Born September 27, 1956, Mrs Oko represented Yala/Ogoja Federal Constituency in seventh Assembly.
She was elected into office as the first female representative from her constituency in June 2011 and sat as Deputy Chairman House Committee on Education.
Until her death, Senator Oko, 63, represented Cross River North Senatorial District under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.
She was Chairman of Senate Committee on Trade and Investment of the ninth National Assembly under the leadership of Senator Ahmed Lawan.
Her death brings to three the number of Senators lost to the cold hands of death in the last four months with two ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Senators namely Benjamin Uwajumogu’s death in December, 2019, followed by that of Senator Ignatius Longjan in February, 2020.
