Members of Parliament on Wednesday paid tribute to their departed colleague, Mrs. Doris Asibi Seidu, who died after battling an illness last month. The late Doris Seidu, former MP for Chereponi in the Northern Region who died on August 1, 2009, has been described by the legislators as a fallen heroine, a hard working and loving mother and sister who will be greatly missed. Majority Leader and MP for Nadowli West, Hon. Alban Bagbin, in his tribute said the late Doris Seidu “was a very cool, calm, gentle and dignified lady. She was a courageous lady who in spite of the seriousness of her illness never indicated to people she was not well”. “We can only share the grief of the family, particularly the husband and her child”, Hon. Bagbin mourned, adding, “Doris’ departure has created a vacuum. I hope and pray that we all try in a decent manner to replace her”. He called on his colleagues to participate fully in the final funeral rites of their departed colleague and preach peace to the people of Chereponi to show exemplary conduct as Ghanaians await the impending by-election in the area. Deputy Minority Chief Whip, Gifty Kusi, in a statement on the floor of Parliament, praised the late Madam Doris Seidu for her bravery in politics and her tenacity to bring joy to the people, for which all her colleagues in Parliament are proud of. “As women Parliamentarians, we acknowledge the pains you have gone through for the past five years to bring joy to the children, women and men in your constituency”, Mrs. Kusi said. The late Doris Seidu first came to Parliament in 2005 as the first female MP for the Chereponi constituency after battling with male counterparts in the 2004 general election. Through hard work, she established herself as an exemplary leader and again won the Chereponi seat on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2008 to take office in the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic. Unfortunately, death took her, leaving the people of the Chereponi Constituency, especially her husband and child, in perpetual loss and sorrow. According to Mrs. Gifty Kusi who is also the MP for Tarkwa-Nsuaem, the late MP was selfless in her struggle to ensure the people of Chereponi got their share of the national cake, adding that “a gaping hole has been left in the NPP, in Parliament and in the Chereponi Constituency”. As an MP, Mrs. Doris Seidu facilitated a lot of development projects including electrification, schools, and clinics; and also gave scholarships to brilliant and needy students, indicating that her departure from earth will agonizingly affect many people. Among those who paid glowing homage to the departed MP were Haruna Iddrisu, MP for Tamale South and Minister for Communications; Ambrose P. Derry, MP for Lawra/Nandom and Deputy Majority Leader; Juliana Azumah-Mensah, MP for Ho East and Minister for Tourism. The rest are Isaac Kwame Asiamah MP for Atwima-Mponua; Esther Obeng Dapaah, MP for Abirem; Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, MP for Ayawaso West Wuogon; Muntaka Mubarak-Mohammed, MP for Asawase and David Assumeng Tetteh, MP for Shai Osukoku. Source: Daily Guide