Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and former Senate President, David Mark, yesterday expressed grief over the demise of the first elected Vice-President of Nigeria, Dr. Alex Ekwueme.
Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, lauded the dedication and service of Ekwueme to the development of the country.
He described Ekwueme as a rare personality and an exceptional leader.
The Senate President prayed God for the repose of Ekwueme’s soul and the grace for his family and the nation to bear the loss.
Saraki said: “Today, I join the entire nation to mourn the passing of one of Nigeria’s most illustrious sons, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, our first elected Vice-President. As we mourn his death, we celebrate his dedication and service to the development of our country.
“We remember his unique and exemplary courage in the face of overwhelming odds – when he stood up to past military regimes in the struggle for restoration of democracy and his dexterity in his personal pursuits as a successful architect, lawyer, businessman and philanthropist.
“Dr. Ekwueme was a rare man and a great leader. He will be sorely missed. I pray for God’s strength for his family at this difficult time. May the Almighty God in his infinite wisdom and grace continue to guide the family and the nation that he has left behind.”
Ekweremadu in a statement by his media adviser, Uche Anichukwu, described Ekwueme’s death as a sad event for Nigeria and her democracy, noting that Ide Oko, as he called him, was a pillar of the nation’s democracy and the struggle for a restructured, just, equitable, and prosperous Nigeria.
He said: “Dr. Ekwueme combined the uncommon toughness and courage of Heracles with the wits of Odysseus and Nestor. His fearless battle against military rule as the convener of the Group of 34 eminent Nigerians (G-34) can be likened to Heracles’ heroic encounter with the hydra-headed chthonic monsters.
“Ekwueme was a fine gentleman and an epitome of politics without bitterness. Although he lost the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), an offshoot of the G34 and pan-Nigerian political platform he built from the scratch, he remained faithful to the party in thick and thin until his death.
“He will be remembered as a public administrator per excellence and a soldier of conscience. He stood by his people during their most challenging and difficult time, knowing that politics has a local flavor most of the time. He offered his undiluted professional service in the design and development of access to the air for Ndigbo during the civil war 1967 to 1970. As the Head of Planning of the Biafra Airports Board, the late prodigy built two functional airports in Ulli and Uga, while the airport projects at Mbaise, Ntigha Ngwa, Umuleri, and Arochukwu were at various completion stages before the end of hostilities.
“Yet, as a detribalized and pan-Nigerian, he joined the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) rather than the Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe’s Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP) in the journey to the Second Republic. He also did Ndigbo a great honour by facilitating the state pardon and eventual return from exile, and reunion of late Ezeigbo Gburugbu, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, with Ndigbo and Nigeria”.
The Senator added that Ekwueme bequeathed a legacy of integrity and strength of character as “he was until his death reputed to have left Office as the Vice President of Nigeria poorer”.
While condoling the Ekwueme family, Government and people of Anambra State, and indeed the entire nation on the great loss, Ekweremadu prayed God to grant the deceased a peaceful repose.
Ex- Senate President, David Mark, on his own described second republic Vice President Dr. Alex Ekwueme as a quintessential leader and a hero of the present democratic dispensation in Nigeria.
Mark in a statement by his media assistant, Paul Mumeh, noted that the elder statesman was a fine architect both in character and leadership.
Ekwueme, he added, was unarguably a foremost leader of the modern day Nigeria pointing out that besides his successes in politics, he was among the leading indigenous architects who designed the Federal capital Territory ( FCT), Abuja.
He recalled Ekwueme’s relentless struggle for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria when he led the famous G34 that later metamorphosed into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that formed the government in 1999.
He listed Ekwueme’s exploits in politics and leadership to include but not limited to propounding the theory of the segmentation of Nigeria into the current six geo political zones for administrative and political convenience during the 1994/95 constitutional conference convoked by late Head of State General Sani Abacha.
Interestingly, the six geo political zonal structure ( North West, North East, South East, South West, North Central and South South ) have remain the a road map for power sharing arrangement in Nigeria today.
According to Mark, “Nigeria and indeed Africa has lost a visionary leader, a forefront politician who brought intellectualism into governance. His quest for excellence, due process and rule of law in Nigeria will remain a reference point in politics and leadership in many years to come.
“No doubt, history will be kind to Ekwueme for his immeasurable contributions to the political, socio and economic development of Nigeria”
Senator Mark urged the federal government to immortalize Ekwueme for his selfless contributions to the nation.
Also the Senator representing Anambra South senatorial district, Senator Andy Uba, described the exit of Dr Alex Ekwueme as “loss of a great iconic figure”.
Senator Uba, who represents the constituency of the late Vice President, in a statement, condoled the immediate family of Ekwueme, the senatorial district and Nigeria at large.
“I want to sincerely condole with the family of Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, GCON and the people of Anambra South Senatorial Zone, Anambra State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on the loss of this great Iconic figure and Former Vice President of Nigeria”, Uba said.
Uba added, “Dr. Ekwueme’s selfless contributions to Nigeria’s democracy cannot be overemphasized.
“I therefore honour his legacy and mourn his loss alongside his family and the people of Nigeria.
“I pray that the Almighty God grant us the fortitude to bear this great loss”.
Nation
