The Leader of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi alongside the Labour Party National Assembly Caucus led by Senator Victor Umeh, gathered in Onitsha to pay their last respects as Hon. Justice Azuka was laid to rest at his father’s compound.
Among those present were Senator Dr. Tony Nwoye, Hon. Afam Ogene (Leader of the Labour Party Caucus in the House of Representatives), Hon. Peter Udeogalanya Anekwe, Hon. Emeka Idu, Hon. Uchenna Okonkwo, (Deputy Minority Leader), Hon. Aja Aja Nze, Prof. Oby Orogbu, and many other dignitaries
Senator Nwoye described the death of Hon Justice Azuka as a tragic one. He opined that Hon Justice Azuka was a humble and honest young man, a bridge-builder, a team player and who lived up to his name justice in his personal conduct with people which exemplifies fairness. He will be solely missed by the grassroot and Labour Party family for he was down to earth party man.
Senator Nwoye extended his condolences and heart-felt sympathy to Hon Justice Azuka’s family, the Traditional Ruler of Onitsha, HRH Igwe Dr Alfred Achebe(the Obi of Onitsha), and the entire people of Onitsha North 1 Constituency.
In a condolence statement, Senator Victor Umeh expressed grief over the death of the Lawmaker.
He described the death as a devastating blow to the late Azuka family, his constituency and Anambra State as a whole.
He also sympathised with the Onitsha people, the Obi of Onitsha, his royal majesty, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, the speaker and members of the Anambra House of Assembly for the loss.
Parts of the statement reads: “While we grieve over this tragic and shocking end for Hon. Justice Azuka, I want to renew my call for all our people to uphold the sanctity of human life and refrain from killing other people under any circumstances.
Hon Afam Ogene, on behalf of Labour Party Members of the National Assembly (NASS) caucus in a heartfelt tribute to their murdered colleague, Hon. Justice Azuka, expressed deep sorrow over his tragic death.
Hon. Afam Ogene, who represents Ogbaru Federal Constituency and serves as the Leader of the Anambra and Labour Party Caucuses, described Azuka’s killing as a painful loss.
In His Message,“Today, dear friends and compatriots, we gather, not to mourn our departed brother, friend and colleague; for we have been disconsolate since last year.
“How do we explain the pain, the anguish and the evaporated hope of reuniting with him in warm embrace and jubilation.
“Today, we come, not to bury Justice, but to bid a dignified farewell to his mortal remains; for he had, since last year, been reunited with Mother Earth in a grim embrace orchestrated by his abductors; the wicked agents of darkness and sorrow.
“Today, dear friends, we have come, not to free Justice from his captors, but to formally announce the end of a search that never really began; a tragedy of systemic and societal failures.
“Today, we have come, not to weep over our loss, for weeping has endured in the land since Justice left his homestead for Awka, in the search for a livable homeland.”
Hon Justice Azuka, who represented Onitsha North 1 in the Anambra State House of Assembly, was kidnapped by gunmen on December 24 in Onitsha. His decomposing body was later discovered at the Second Niger Bridge on February 6, where his abductors had dumped him.
