The chairman, Senate Committee on Disapora and NGOs, Senator Rose Oko (representing Cross River North in the upper legislative chamber) and her colleague who is also the chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator John Owan-Enoh on Saturday paid glowing tributes to the late Col Sam Agi during the requiem mass in his honour in Yala, Cross River State.
The mass which was held at the Mary Knoll Chaplaincy has in attendance top dignitaries including friends and family members of the deceased among which are AVM Clement Ogbeche and a Yala billionaire philanthropist, and the CEO of Loaded Global, Prince Akwaji Offiono (aka Akwase).
Speaking during the mass, Senator Oko, who thanked God for bringing the late Col Sam to his family, the Yala nation, Cross River State and indeed Nigeria, said he lived a worthy life as a professional military officer.
She said, “God knows all things and in all situations He said we should give Him thanks. And this day as we mourn Sam and as we are about to commit him to the bosom of the Lord, we still say thank your Lord from bringing somebody like Sam to us, to his family members first of all, he became a patriarch of the family, to us in Yala, Cross River North, to the whole of Cross River State and the federation.
“And this day as we bury him, we commit his family members, in particular his wife and children, we commit them to the Lord. For the Lord to continue to guide them, for the Lord to continue to bless them and for the Lord to continue to give them the strength and the fortitude to bear this loss. We also commit Sam’s soul to the bosom of the Lord. May His light perpetually shine on us.”
On his part, Senator Owan Enoh, while speaking extended his condolences to the family and the Yala people, describing the late Sam as a military officer who exhibited qualities of dominance, discipline and doggedness all through his career.
He said, “I stand up hear to extend my condolences and I think that on a day like this, what we are likely to do is to reflect of the times and life that Sam lived. But as I said, the few times I had to meet with him, he exhibited those qualities of dominance, he was disciplined, he had a successful professional military career.
While urging everyone to emulate the worthy life the late Sam lives Enoh said, “I think we all should learn from him and especially the family and the Yala people and Cross Riverians and the country that he served so diligently. It is also a moment for all of us to reflect on how as a people, that we will also die and when we do what will be said of us.
“I think the family should be happy because of all the kind words that have been said about Sam. These words are not only said because he is death but because these words are real and the fact. And I think we all should emulate his life. There is no doubt that he is at the bosom of the Lord our Father. We pray for his family and as much as we can, let stand with them and let his death be a unifier for everyone of the members of his family. May his soul Rest in perfect peace.”
It would be recalled that the late Col Sam died on October 24, 2017 at the age of 63 leaving behind a wife, five children and several relatives. He retired from military after 30 years successful career in 2003.
