BY EDMOND ODOK – The lawmaker representing Cross River North Senatorial District and Chairman of Senate Committee on Trade and Investment, Dr (Mrs) Rose Oko is dead. She was aged 63.
A second term member of Nigeria’s upper legislative chamber, Senator Oko reportedly died on Monday night at a United Kingdom (UK) medical facility where she was receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment in the last one month.
One close aide of the late Senator while confirming the story posted on his Facebook wall; “The Amazon Goes Home, Sad! Distinguished Senator Dr (Mrs) Rose Okoji Oko, You Left Us At The Time Your Services To The Great People Of CRS Is Highly Needed. May Your Soul Rest In Peace. Amen.”
Born on September 27, 1956, Senator Oko was a member of the House of Representatives representing Yala/Ogoja Federal Constituency during the 7th National Assembly.
She severed as Deputy Chairman House Committee on Education while in the House of Representatives.
She was elected into the 8th Senate in June 2015 and re-elected into the 9th Senate in June 2019.
She was the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) during the 8th Senate.
The late Oko, a one-time Commissioner of Education in Cross River State, was appointed Director General, National Defence & Security Council, Cabinet Secretariat under the military presidency in 1993. She held the position simultaneously with being the National Commissioner, National Electoral Commission (NEC), now Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Between 1993 and 1994, Dr Oko was appointed Director General by the military Provisional Ruling Council (PRC) and one year after became the National Commissioner, National Refugees Commission, now rechristened National Commission For Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons. She retired from the federal public service in 2002 to join full time politics.
