South-east govs, Ezekwesili, others mourn Ekwueme

A former Minister of Education and Co-convener of the #BringBackOurGirls, Oby Ezewesili, also paid her tribute.
“Really I’m pained that former Vice President Alex Ekwueme did not make it back home to us and has now gone the way of all flesh. We remember him with fondness for his strides in the land. May our gracious God comfort Aunt Beatti, Chidi and all the Ekwueme clan,” she said on Twitter.
A Nigerian lawyer, Festus Keyamo, said: “It was just about two months ago that I last saw Dr. Alex Ekwueme. He was physically present at the Supreme Court for the induction of the new SANs; such a fine gentleman. His passage is a big loss to the country as a whole…deep commiseration to the Ekwueme family.”
The South-east Governors Forum and the Igbo socio-political and cultural organisation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, have also mourned the death of Dr Ekwueme, describing it as “a great loss” to the Igbo nation and the entire country.
Chairman of the Governor’s Forum and Governor of Ebonyi state, David Umahi, described the death of Ekwueme as “the end of an era.”
Umahi, in statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Uzor, expressed shock over the death of Dr Ekwueme, describing it as a great one to Ndigbo in particular and Nigeria in general.
He commiserated with the government of Anambra and the entire Ekwueme family of Oko for the loss and prayed God to grant him eternal rest.
“The death of our father and leader, Dr. Ekwueme is so devastating especially now that his fatherly advice is needed most. He was a great Nigerian and great believer in the unity of the country. As his children, we have learnt a lot from his deep political sagacity.
“As the Vice President of Nigeria, Ekwueme was a great rallying factor of Igbo socio-political integration. He was a voice of reason and a man who toiled to place Ndigbo at the centre of mainstream politics.
Indeed, we have lost a rare gem, a gentleman and a decent politician and academia,” the statement said.
The governor disclosed that the South-east zone through the governors would soon draw a programme on how to pay last respects to the fallen statesman.
President-General of Ohanaeze, John Nwodo, in his remarks said Ekwueme
was an outstanding patriot, whose contributions to the country’s socio-political evolution would be indelible.
Nwodo, in a statement, said the country had lost one of the foremost advocates of a restructured federation.
“As Vice President, Dr Ekwueme was intellectually forthright, engaging, loyal and outstandingly patriotic. As a politician, he was courageous and original in his ideas. Ndigbo have lost a genius, a father and an intellectual giant.”

Leave a Reply