By Obeten Godfrey
The Cross River State House of Assembly has resolved to pay the family of late Hon. Steven Akomaye Ukpukpen all remunerations due him till the end of the 8th Assembly.
This was disclosed by the Speaker of the House, Hon. John Gaul Lebo (PDP Abi) at the funeral ceremony of the lawmaker in Bedia community, Obudu Local Government Area.
Ukpukpen’s death brought the sleepy community to life as family, friends, political and business associates all trooped in for the burial with those who said their tributes eulogising the late lawmaker.
In his tribute: the Speaker, Hon. John Lebo said that, “Stephen was one of my closest friends. He was always the first in my office and the last person in my office.”
He said that the lawmaker’s death had taught him not to be scared of death and commended Senator Ayade as well as Senator Imoke for their interventions which saw him been given a clean bill of health a month before his death.
Lebo who also disclosed that the late lawmaker was his “political twin” given their relationship to Senator Imoke, said “the Assembly had resolved that his family will receive all remunerations till the end of the 8th Assembly.”
Others who eulogised the late lawmaker included Senator Rose Oko and the Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party in the State, Ntufam Inok Edim.
The lawmaker who represented Obudu State Constituency in the 8th Assembly, was until his death Chairman House Committee on Public Accounts.
He was laid to rest last Saturday at his native Bedia community in Obudu local government area and INEC has fixed August 11, 2018 for a by-election to fill his vacant seat.