ABUJA – The Senate President, Sen. David Mark, on Tuesday said the country had lost one of its best with the death of Sen. Lawrence Ayo of the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD).
Ayo served as a senator on the platform of the party between 1999 and 2003.
This is contained in a statement signed by Paul Mumeh, Chief Press Secretary to the President of the Senate and made available to newsmen in Abuja.
Mark said: “I therefore commiserate with the government and the people of Ondo State over the death of Sen. Ayo Lawrence.’’
The statement said Mark had described late Ayo as a true democrat who stood to be counted in the course of the struggle for democracy in Nigeria.
Mark, who recalled late Ayo’s frank and robust contributions to national issues during his stint in the National Assembly, said “we have indeed missed a colleague’’.
He said the deceased was a true friend and a distinguished parliamentarian who identified with the ordinary man.
Mark said “Nigeria has lost a fine gentleman and a patriot who believed in the unity and indivisibility of the country. (NAN)