Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has paid tribute to the late Emmanuel Ugboaja, General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), describing him as a committed patriot who devoted his life to advancing workers’ welfare and building a better Nigeria.
Ugboaja reportedly died on Thursday after a protracted illness at the age of 60.
Obi recalled first meeting Ugboaja during his time in the Labour Party, noting that their paths crossed on several occasions in the years that followed.
He said he was consistently struck by Ugboaja’s deep commitment to the welfare of workers, his belief in justice and fairness, and his desire for a Nigeria where every citizen could live and work with dignity.
He described the late NLC secretary as someone who was never indifferent to the struggles of ordinary Nigerians, always speaking with conviction and showing genuine concern for the people, particularly workers whose contributions to national development are often overlooked.
Obi said Ugboaja’s death was a painful loss not only to his family and colleagues but to all who shared his ideals, stressing that Nigeria has lost a man who believed in the possibility of a better country and worked actively toward that goal.
He extended his condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased, praying that God grants them the strength to bear the loss and grants Ugboaja eternal rest.
