A former governor of Edo State and Edo North Senator-elect, Adams Oshiomhole, has expressed deep sadness at the passing of Franca Afegbua, Nigeria’s first female senator.
Oshiomhole through a statement by his chief media aide, Victor Oshioke, on Monday night said, “The sad news of Franca Afegbua’s passing is coincidentally and particularly painful for me because, I was looking forward to meeting her, as part of a planned interaction with prominent past occupants of the seat to which I have just recently been elected.
“By her historic election as senator representing Bendel North in 1983, Franca Afegbua broke the glass ceiling and opened the window for other women to rise and aspire to the highest legislative office in the land. Franca was a trendsetter in fashion, a trailblazer in politics, a quintessential activist, and a courageous woman of substance.
“Despite the fact that the military cut short her tenure at the red chambers of the National Assembly, she was until her death celebrated for her pioneering role in championing agitations for affirmative action, to enable more women get into the legislature and her productive engagement with youths in her constituency. “
He stated that when she was no longer a regular face on newspaper pages and television screens, she continued to impact positively in the lives of people within her immediate community. She remained a mentor and inspiration to many of the great women in politics today.
On behalf of his family, Oshiomole extended their sincere condolences to the Afegbua family of Okpella Kingdom, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State and the entire Nigerian political class, for this irreplaceable loss.
“May her immediate and extended family find consolation in the fact that she lived a fulfilled life and left behind a good name that is permanently etched in the history of our great nation,” Oshiomhole added.
