All Progressives Congress’ Professor Kohol Iornem has described the death of former Kwande West State Constituency lawmaker, Mr. Hemen Boko, as a great loss to Kwande, Benue State, and Nigeria, describing the deceased as a courageous man who stood firmly for due process and justice.
Prof Kohol, in a tribute to the late politician, said Mr. Boko’s death came as a shock, recalling that the former lawmaker had contacted him about two weeks before his death to discuss the outcome of a recent primary election and his decision to seek legal redress.
“He was a man who believed strongly in due process,” Prof Kohol said, adding that Boko told him that the courts had always vindicated him and expressed confidence that he would also emerge victorious in his own case.
Describing Mr. Boko as “fearless,” Prof Kohol said he had personally witnessed several occasions when the former lawmaker spoke truth to power whenever he believed that things were not being done properly.
“He would speak truth to power and express his views strongly, yet respectfully,” Prof Kohol said, stressing that such individuals were becoming increasingly rare in public life.
He placed Mr. Boko in the company of other courageous public figures, including Engr. Isaac Iyorhen and Mr. Terngu Shawon, whom he described as people who refused to be intimidated by positions or power.
Prof Kohol described the late former lawmaker as “a man of courage, conviction and principle,” saying his death had deprived the people of Kwande, Benue State, and Nigeria of a valuable human asset.
“Kwande, Benue, and Nigeria have lost a human asset,” he said, while praying that the deceased’s soul would rest in perfect peace.
