The family of the late Senator Polycarp Ogbonna Nwite has rejected the Ebonyi State Government's presentation of the appointment of Mrs. Rita Iye as Special Assistant to Governor Francis Nwifuru on Women Mobilisation as one made in honour of the late senator, describing the claim as a misrepresentation of his legacy.
In a press statement issued on Thursday and signed by Michael Odeligbo Nwite, George Nwibo Nwite, Polycarp Ogbonna Nwite Jr. and Daniel Ifeanyi Nwite on behalf of the family, the children of the former Nigerian Ambassador to Botswana and presidential aide to late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua called on the state government to correct the public narrative and dissociate their father's name from the appointment.
The family said it was compelled to respond "in the interest of public record and in defence of the name, legacy and honour" of the late statesman following public reports that the appointment was made in his honour.
According to the statement, Mrs. Rita Iye is neither the widow of the late senator nor a representative of the Nwite family.
"Mrs. Rita Iye is neither the spouse of Late Senator Polycarp Nwite nor the representative of the Nwite family. She was estranged from our father prior to his demise in 2010 and was not in attendance at his burial rites, and has no association with the nuclear family of Senator Polycarp Ogbonna Nwite, having long ceased to be associated with him," the family stated.
The family further alleged that Mrs. Iye is from Kogi State and is married to a man from Enugu State with whom she has children, maintaining that she has no legal or customary entitlement to bear the Nwite family name or benefit from any honour accorded in memory of the late senator.
The statement stressed that Senator Nwite is survived by his children, whom it described as distinguished professionals in law, banking, healthcare, entrepreneurship and the civil service, adding that they remain the legitimate custodians of his name and legacy.
While acknowledging Governor Francis Nwifuru's constitutional powers to appoint political aides, the family faulted the use of the late senator's name to justify the appointment.
"While we do not impugn the constitutional prerogative of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, to appoint anyone into his administration, we strongly object to the invocation of Senator Nwite's name in a manner that denigrates rather than dignifies his memory," the statement read.
The family further suggested that the state government may have acted on misleading information, especially as it publicly stated that the appointment was intended to honour Senator Nwite.
It argued that the action inadvertently brought "dishonour and mockery" to a statesman whose democratic credentials had recently received national recognition.
The statement recalled that the late senator was recently conferred with the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as one of Nigeria's Heroes of Democracy, noting that both men were allies during the country's pro-democracy struggle.
The family also lamented what it described as the failure of successive Ebonyi State governments to officially honour Senator Nwite since his death 16 years ago despite his contributions to the state and the nation.
According to the statement, "If Polycarp Nwite was from anywhere else in this country he would have since been honoured appropriately, but it is on record that he passed away 16 years ago and successive Ebonyi State Governments never deemed it fit to honour his memory."
The family, however, said it remained consoled that the late senator continued to be remembered by many Ebonyi people of goodwill who appreciated his service.
It urged the Ebonyi State Government to withdraw any association between Senator Nwite's legacy and the appointment of Mrs. Iye and to engage the recognised members of the family on matters relating to the remembrance and honour of the late politician.
Reaffirming its commitment to preserving the late senator's reputation, the family said his greatest legacy remained "his good name and his unimpeachable service to the nation and to democracy."
As of the time of filing this report, the Ebonyi State Government had not issued an official response to the family's statement.
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