By Dr. Ebuka Onyekwelu
The Anambra State House of Assembly on Thursday held a valedictory session for late Hon. Nelson Achukwu, the honourable member of the Anambra State 3rd House of Assembly, who represented Nnewi South 2 constituency. Hon. Barrister Nelson Achukwu, who hailed from Ukpor in Nnewi South, was known for his doggedness and business competence despite his physical challenge as a crippled man. He was murdered by gunmen in 2022, in Anambra State.
Hon. Achukwu, who was murdered in cold blood, was decapitated, with his manhood severed. Recalling this sad and dark event, which casts an enormous shadow on civilization, Hon. Johnbosco Akaegbobi, the Minority Leader of the House and the member representing Nnewi South Constituency 2, was moved to tears while lamenting that human beings can be so cruel as to treat a crippled man, who is astute and hard working, in such an uncanny dehumanizing way. Hon. Akaegbobi described the late Hon. Nelson as a brilliant businessman with over 100 employees in his various business interests, cut across real estate, block industry, and pure water industry, among others.
During the valedictory at plenary, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze, Ph.D, paid a glowing tribute to Hon. Nelson Achukwu, pointing to his contributions to the House of Assembly and input to the governance in Anambra State. The Speaker also commended his dogged spirit and encouraged the family to remain strong.
In his submission, Hon. Chuddy Atuchukwu, the House of Assembly member representing Nnewi South Constituency 1, also commended the deceased for his spirit of service and commitment despite limitations by the conditions of his birth. Similarly, Hon. Ikenna Ofodeme, the Majority Leader of the House and the member representing Ekwusigo Constituency, spoke so highly of the late Hon. Nelson, as he paid his warm tribute to him.
Some colleagues of Hon. Nelson in the 3rd Anambra State Assembly, including Hon. Barr Okonkwo, Hon. PC Okeke, and Rt. Hon. Kelue Molokwu spoke so highly of the late Hon. Nelson Achukwu. Hon. Barr Okonkwo described the late Hon. Nelson as someone with “a strong sense of justice, compassionate and generous.” On his part, Rt. Hon. Molokwu described the deceased as “fearless and audacious.”
At the valedictory on Thursday, a vote of thanks by the late Hon. Nelson Achukwu’s family was delivered by Mr. Nelson Achukwu, deceased second son, who conveyed his family’s gratitude to the House of Assembly, friends, and family for standing with them.
In 2022, the late Hon. Nelson Achukwu was kidnapped twice in Ukpor, Nnewi South LGA before he was murdered. After he was first kidnapped, he paid a ransom and was released. Shortly afterwards, he was kidnapped again, and despite the ransom paid, he was murdered.
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