Breaking: TUC Deputy National President, Onuegbu, Is Dead

The Deputy National President of the Trade Union Congress, Chika Onuegbu, is dead.

The former chairman of the Rivers State chapter of the union was reported dead in the early hours of Saturday after a brief illness.

The Rivers State indigene has been an active labour leader and public commentator within the State and Nigeria as a whole.

The development was confirmed by the State Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Mrs Beatrice Itubo, to the Punch. She disclosed that the union was informed in the early hours of Saturday.

Itubo said, “Yes, it is true. Early hours of this morning they informed us and we also sent people and we went to confirm.”

“It is really terrible. I didn’t hear that he was sick. It is just this morning somebody told me that he had a headache and went to the clinic and they were taking care of him, then suddenly early hours of this morning he gave up the ghost.”

“It is really terrible. This is happening at a time when Chika Onurgbu’s boldness and bravery are needed most. We have very unfriendly administrations this period, both in the public and private sector.”

“Each time we are faced with some of these terrible situations he is one of the people that will stand out and also speak out his mind. It is really devastating that this kind of thing is happening at this time,” she added.

In a related development, President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, expressed sadness following the death of two leading members of the Zazzau Emirate, the Iyan Zazzau, Alhaji Bashir Aminu; and Talban Zazzau, Abubakar Pate.

Buhari reacted in a condolence message released through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, titled “President Buhari mourns Iyan Zazzau Aminu and Talban Zazzau Pate.”