Ebonyi State has been thrown into mourning following the sudden and mysterious death of one of the founding fathers. First Republic Senator Offia Nwali died on Sunday at the age of 74, his body found in a pond behind his residence. The circumstances leading to his demise are unclear but a close family source said he had gone to inspect his farm but slipped into pond.

Governor David Nweze Umahi has described the death of the celebrated veteran politician as “a great blow” to Ebonyi.

Umahi, who led members of the State Executive Council to the country home of the deceased at Ameka, Ezza South Local Government Area on Monday, said he had to cut short his visit outside the state “because of the degree of what has happened to Ebonyi State.”

“We are here first, to sympathise with you because it (his death) is quite tragic. We never expected it. We never dreamt of it,” he told members of the Nwali family who received him.

Umahi recalled Nwali’s roles in the creation and unity of Ebonyi State as well as his robust contributions to debates when he served as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Governor said: “I recall the invaluable contributions of this great son of Ebonyi State to national development. He was a shining star whose robust contributions on the floor of the Senate cannot be forgotten in a hurry. He played a pivotal role in the creation of our dear state. His death is a great blow to us a state.”

Umahi warned against bickering in the Nwali family, saying: “We will stand against anybody that wants to make trouble because we don’t want a second dead man.” He assured them that if they put their “house in order, I can assure you that Ebonyi State Government would stand by you.”

The Governor thanked God for preserving Dr. Nwali’s life up to the age of 74, adding that “not many people will weather what he weathered through and still have to put himself together.”

Responding, the first son of the deceased, Emmanuel Nwali, expressed his appreciation on the visit of the governor and assured him that the family would remain peaceful during and after the burial of their father.

•Photo shows Senator Offia Nwali.