President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, commiserated with the family of former Vice President Alex Ekwueme over the death of the elder statesman.
A statement by presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, reads: “President Muhammadu Buhari sends condolences to Nigerians, and to the Government and people of Anambra State, on the passing away of elder statesman and former Vice President, Dr Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme (GCON), on Sunday, November 19, 2017.
“President Buhari commiserates with the entire Oko Kingdom, the Aguata Council of Traditional Rulers, and the Ekwueme family, over the loss of the family’s patriarch, whose regular counsels on national issues and mediations for peaceful co-existence would be sorely missed.
“The President affirms that Dr Ekwueme’s unwavering commitment to the unity of Nigeria had been a major encouragement to many governments, recalling the personal sacrifices he made in helping to lay the foundation for sustainable democracy in Nigeria.
“President Buhari believes Dr Ekwueme worked assiduously to improve the livelihood of many poor and underprivileged people through the Alex Ekwueme Foundation, describing him as a man who served his country and humanity.
“The President prays that the almighty God will receive the soul of the former Vice President, and grant his family the fortitude to bear the loss”.
Former President OIusegun Obasanjo described the death as a shock.
Obasanjo said this in a statement signed by his Media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, on Monday in Abeokuta.
Obasanjo noted that Ekwueme was a great Nigerian who devoted his life to distinguished service of his fatherland.
“The late Ekwueme was a selfless, disciplined and patriotic Nigerian, who lived a worthy and exemplary life.
“His irrepressible thirst for knowledge and education, which propelled his foray into many fields of intellectual pursuit represents a shining example to the younger generation,’’ he said.
Obasanjo said Ekwueme made distinguished role in the development of the architectural profession, philanthropy and goodwill in Nigeria to the benefit of many people.
“As the whole world pays tribute to Ekwueme, I join them in celebrating the life of a man who raised from the beacon of human struggle to lofty heights of nobility.’’
‘’His life is an example of what we should all aspire for.
“His struggle and our struggles remain the same as we all seek for answers to deal with today’s challenges.
“His demise is a loss to his family, who would miss a caring patriarch, the people of Anambra, who would miss a guide and the good people of Nigeria who would miss a leader.
In all situations, he lived nobly and he died in nobility.
“May the soul of Ekwueme rest in perfect peace.”
Former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) described Ekwueme as a pillar of unity, saying that his death is a big loss to the nation.
Babangida, known as IBB, said this in a statement by his media aide, Malam Mahmud Abdullahi, on Monday in Minna, Niger State.
“We lost Ekwueme at a time the invaluable role of elder statesmen like him is needed for national cohesion.’’
Babangida said he received the news of Ekwueme’s demise with a heavy heart took solace in the exemplary life he lived.
He extolled the virtue of simplicity, which according to him, characterized the life of the former vice president.
He said that Ekwueme’s demise had left a very big vacuum in the quest for true nation building, national unity and peaceful co-existent that had the dream of every Nigerian.
“His simplicity is a rare virtue; with his intellectual depth, I have come to know him as a man living a very worthwhile live built on values and morality.
“We will miss him; Nigeria needs people like him now than ever.
“I condole with the family of the late Dr Ekwueme, the government and people of Anambra state and Nigerians.
“I pray that God gives the family and all of us the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss,’’ Babangida said.
Former Vice President and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, also mourned the passing away of Ekwueme, describing it as a great loss to the nation “at this critical phase of its political life”.
In a statement by his Media Office in Abuja, Atiku Abubakar, the Waziri Adamawa, hailed Ekwueme as a ‘great man and democrat’, adding that Nigeria’s recent history of democracy and nation-building would be incomplete without his input.
Atiku said Ekwueme’s democratic credentials were of the highest quality saying further that he was always called upon by political leaders in the country notably in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to settle disputes and differences and he never for once was found wanting.
The Waziri Adamawa stated further that the late Ekwueme, a man of great learning who had university degrees in multiple disciplines, was a wise man and a statesman, more than a politician.
Atiku said while the average politician bothered more and often about the next election and which office they would occupy, the late Vice President concerned himself with the well-being of the country and how it can be better governed for the good of all.
He recalled that at the National Constitutional Conference, 1994-1995, the former Vice President was a star that attracted most other delegates because of his wisdom and moderate position on contentious political issues. Atiku says the late Vice President was always a voice of balance, moderation and consensus.
Atiku remembers how in his wisdom, and concerned about the best structure that would give the best governance to the country, the late Ekwueme came up with the six geo- political zone structure, which has found its way into our political vocabulary because of its convenient nature and brilliance.
“We were all expecting to welcome him after a few weeks back to his beloved country, Nigeria in good health, only to be confronted by the sad reality of his transition. We cannot question the will of God but only to extend our solidarity and condolences to all who would miss his wisdom and fatherly presence”, Atiku said.
Atiku enjoined members of the Ekwueme family, the government and people of Anambra State and the government and people of Nigeria to bear with stoicism the passing on of this great and illustrious political leader.
APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said the intellectual interventions of Ekwueme helped Nigeria in navigating critical junctures.
He said this in a condolence message he sent to the family of Ekwueme.
In the message made available to journalists by his Media Office on Monday in Lagos, Asiwaju Tinubu said:
“I mourn the passing of Second Republic Vice President, Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme (GCON), who died on Sunday in London at 85.
“Chief Ekwueme lived well. He also served his country well. He was a true patriot and statesman who made personal sacrifices for the unity and stability of Nigeria.
“His deep intellectual interventions often helped the country in navigating beyond critical junctures.
“Chief Ekwueme was a team player. As Vice President, he worked well with his principal, President Shehu Shagari. He was loyal to his boss and faithful to his country.
“As he contributed to Nigeria’s stability through his interventions, he also made laudable contributions to Nigeria’s political lexicon.
“It was Chief Ekwueme who at the 1994-95 Constitutional Conference in Abuja suggested the six geo-political zones as a more realistic structure to create a more equitable system. This has stuck till date. The structure is also often cited in appointment-distribution and calculation.
“Dr. Ekwueme was a fine gentleman and a good family man. I mourn with his family. I mourn with the government and people of Anambra State. I mourn with Nigeria, for we have all lost a patriot.
“I pray that our country be blessed with more of Dr. Ekwueme. I pray that God grant his family the strength to live with this loss and that He also grant the soul of Dr. Ekwueme eternal rest”.
Also, the late Ekwueme has been described as a national icon whose contributions helped to stabilise democratic ideals in the nation’s polity.
Former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, stated this in his condolence message on the death of the highly revered statesman who was, until his death, among the few remaining titans of modern Nigerian politics.
According to the former governor, late Ekwueme was an exceptional personality who lived a life full of achievements in his professional career as an architect of international repute and also in the field of politics where he established himself as a remarkable politician and rallying point among his kinsmen, contemporaries and generality of Nigerians.
“Articulate, focused, disciplined and patriotic, Dr. Ekwueme held aloft democratic ideals of the nation’s founding fathers and never wavered in the quest for a better Nigeria. This won him great respect from across the political spectrum putting him at a foremost spot as a legend and natural leader”.
Daniel then on behalf of his family, commiserated with the Ekwueme family, the good people of Anambra State and entire Nigerians on the demise of this great son of Africa as he prayed Almighty God to grant him eternal rest.
Also, former President Shehu Shagari condoled with the family of Ekwueme.
Ekwueme was his deputy between October 1, 1979 and December 31, 1983.
In a statement on Monday in Sokoto, Shagari said that Ekwueme’s death was a huge loss to the entire nation.
Shagari described him as a brother and a humble Nigerians who contributed in various capacities to the nation’s development.
“It is with deep sense of loss that I learned about the demise of my brother and former vice president.
“On behalf of my family, I sincerely commiserate with Nigerians on his death.
“May his soul rest in peace,” he said.
Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki expressed grief over Ekwueme’s death.
Saraki said in a statement in Abuja that Ekwueme was a rare personality and an exceptional leader who dedicated himself to the development of the country.
The statement was signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu.
Saraki prayed God to grant Ekwueme eternal rest and give his family and the nation the grace to bear the loss.
” 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 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.
“He will be sorely missed,’’ Saraki said .
Immediate past Senate President, David Mark, described Ekwueme as a quintessential leader and a hero of democracy.
In a statement, Mark said that the elder statesman was unique in character and leadership.
The statement was signed by his Media Assistant, Mr Paul Mumeh.
He noted that Ekwueme was among the leading indigenous architects who designed the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
He also noted that Ekwueme relentlessly struggled for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria when he led the famous G34 that later metamorphosed into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He listed Ekwueme’s exploits in politics and leadership to include conception of the segmentation of Nigeria into six geo-political zones for administrative and political convenience during the 1994/1995 Constitutional Conference.
“Interestingly, the six geo-political zonal structure (North-West, North-East, South-East, South-West, North-Central and South-South ) has remained the roadmap for power sharing arrangement in Nigeria.”
According to Mark, Nigeria and the entire Africa has lost a visionary leader.
“He was 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,” he said.
Mark urged the Federal Government to immortalise Ekwueme for his contributions to national development.
Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State described Ekwueme as a true democrat, a hero and icon of democracy that would continue to be remembered by Nigerians.
Dickson, in a statement on Monday in Yenagoa signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Francis Agbo, said the deceased was a leader who believed in the rule of law.
The governor said: “Ekwueme was a gentleman politician who believed in the rule of law and ventured into politics to serve.
“Late Ekwueme was a selfless, visionary and sagacious politician who led the defunct G34 Patriots to form the PDP in 1998.
“It was also to his credit that he formulated the framework for the categorisation of Nigeria into six geo- political zones during the 1994/95 constitutional conference.
‘’The conference was organised by the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha.
“This political zonal structure has come to stay in Nigeria today; but he died when his wise counsel was most needed to steer the ship of state.”
The governor appealed to the Federal Government to immortalise the name of the Second Republic Vice President.
An Igbo group, the Ndigbo Unity Forum (NUF) also described Ekwueme’s death as a huge loss to Igboland and Nigeria as a whole.
The President of NUF, Mr Augustine Chukwudum, said in Enugu that Ekwueme wrote his name on the sand of time.
According to Chukwudum, Ekwueme’s gentleness and civility reflected in his political life, making politics a beautiful game, not a do-or-die affair.
He urged Nigerian youths interested in politics to emulate the late vice president’s political lifestyle.
“He is a good role model for the youth and others who want to make careers in politics and public service,’’ he said.
In its reaction, the All Progressives Congress (APC) described the death as ‘sad and painful’.
A statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, reads: “The All Progressives Congress (APC) deeply mourns the death of respected elder statesman, political intelligentsia and Nigeria’s former vice president, Dr. Alex Ekwueme at 85.
“Truly, the nation has lost a fine gentleman and a true patriot who demonstrated that politics and integrity are not incompatible.
“The APC will remember the late Ekwueme as a stabilizing voice in Nigerian politics over the years. Many will attest that the late Ekwueme’s political ideas and interventions greatly and positively shaped the country’s political fabric. The Party recalls that at the 1994-95 constitutional conference, the late Ekwueme suggested a six-zone geo-political structure to create a more equitable system. That structure is now in operation in the country today.
“The late Ekwueme was also undoubtedly one of the strong pillars of democracy in the country. Through the G-34 group, he was a key actor that doggedly fought for the country’s return to a democracy during the military dictatorship of Gen. Sani Abacha and ultimately birthed the present fourth republic.
“As a Party, while the death of the late Ekwueme is a sad and painful loss, we should take solace in the fact that he lived a long, accomplished and impactful life. The task before us is to, therefore, keep his legacies aglow.
“The Party offers its heartfelt condolences to the late Ekwueme’s family, the President of the country, the people and government of Anambra State over the sad loss. We pray the Almighty God grant his deserving soul eternal rest and the family the strength to bear the loss”.
Former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, also mourned the death of Ekwueme, describing it as a huge loss to humanity.
Obi, who said that the country cherished Ekwueme’s fatherly advice while he was alive, added that he would be missed not only by his immediate family, but by Anambra State and the country as a whole.
He prayed for the happy repose of Ekwueme’s soul and for those he left behind to carry on with his politics focused on service at all times.
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State described his death as further depletion in the number of elder statesmen with love for Nigeria.
Ugwuanyi said in a statement on Monday that the demise of Ekwueme was painful to Enugu State and Nigeria a whole.
“We received the news of his passing with deep sadness; it is a huge loss not only to his family but to the entire country.
Speaker Yakubu Dogara of the House of Representatives described Ekwueme’s death as a huge loss to Africa.
In a statement he signed on Monday in Abuja, Dogara said that the late elder statesman was a patriot and nationalist.
He said that the former vice president died at a time Africa needed patriots and leaders like him as it struggled with conflicts and other challenging
“In times as these, elderly wisdom, experience and guidance of Dr Ekwueme are needed by leaders at all levels.
“Dr Ekwueme was a philanthropist, a famous architect, lawyer, brilliant politician and a man of peace whose efforts in building bridges of friendship among the various peoples of Nigeria are legendary.
“He played politics of ideas, principle and purpose and helped to bring stability,’’ he said.
Dogara said that Ekwueme lived a life worthy of emulation and left an indelible mark in the annals of the history of Nigeria.
“As said of saints and sages, we take solace in the fact that he has gone to rest, having emptied himself while he walked on earth and served humanity.
“He was truly a political colossus and giant.
“I want to express our heartfelt condolences to the Ekwueme family, the government and people of Anambra State over this huge and irreparable loss.’’
Dogara prayed that Ekwuenme’s soul would rest in peace.
The Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr Victor Ndoma- Egba, said that the death of the foremost politician waas the end of an era.
Ndoma-Egba expressed sadness at Ekwueme’s death in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by Mrs Clara Braide, his Special Adviser on Communication.
He said that Ekwueme died when his wealth of knowledge was needed most for nation building.
“The news of the death of Dr Alex Ekwueme came with sadness and a sense of loss.
“He was a great leader, foremost Nigerian, astute politician, a detribalised Nigeria whose wealth of experience will be highly missed by Nigeria.
“As his children, we have learnt a lot from him.
“As the Vice President of Nigeria, Ekwueme was a great rallying factor of Igbo socio-political integration,” he said.
According to Ndoma Egba, Ekwueme was a voice of reasoning 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 academic.
“We mourn him and will continue to remember his legacies,” he said.
Rep. Johnson Agbonayinma (Edo – PDP) described Ekwueme as a man of peace who stood for Nigeria’s unity.
Agbonayinma said on Monday in Abuja that Nigerians would greatly miss the former vice president.
He said that Ekwueme left legacies of unity, love, tolerance and hard work, regretting that he died when his knowledge was needed most.
Chief Paul Nnajiofor, Chairman, Enugu State House of Assembly Committee on Information, said that Nigeria lost a great politician and father in Ekwueme’s death.
He also described the late politician as great philosopher.
Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State described the late Ekwueme as an epitome of a detribalised Nigerian.
Okorocha, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Sam Onwuemedo, in Owerri on Monday, noted that Ekwueme launched the Igbo into national politics in the second Republic and refused to be cajoled into playing tribal politics.
He said that after the civil war, Nigerians re-enacted their faith and belief in the Igbos as one of the major tripods of the nation through late Ekwueme by electing him as Vice President to Shagari.
The governor noted that until his death, the former vice president remained in the mainstream of Nigerian politics because of his firm belief in the oneness of the nation.
He said he was a good example of the kind of politics the Igbos should be playing at any given time, adding that he had left behind a befitting legacy.
The governor said the deceased’s peaceful and honest dispositions both in politics, public and private life were all worthy of emulation.
“The only regret about Ekwueme at the moment is that he died at a time his wealth of experience and wise advice will have been most needed and useful to Nigerians of goodwill.
“Nigerians and of course, Ndigbo in particular, will greatly miss Dr Ekwueme and I pray that the good Lord will grant his soul eternal rest,” Okorocha said.
In his reaction, Mr Mike Iheanetu, representing Aboh Mbaise in the Imo State House of Assembly, described Ekwueme’s demise as “the death of the Nigerian Dream”`.
Iheanetu said that the Nigerian dream was encapsulated in Ekwueme’s brain when he formed the minority opinion which produced the current six geopolitical zones.
The lawmaker said that Nigeria, as a country, owed it to Ekwueme’s memory to ensure that the six zones come together to form a government that would strengthen the zones and reduce power at the centre.
He said this would make the centre less attractive, thereby reducing rancour and acrimony, as well as unite the country, adding that unity of the country is most important.
“I believe in development from bottom to top which was Ekwueme’s vision. I am proposing for the six regions.
“If we strengthen the bottom, it will make the centre weak and therefore less attractive; and if the centre is weak, there will be less rancor and acrimony and Nigeria will be united which is of utmost importance.
“He proposed rotational presidency and we are still looking forward to it. This is what we owe Ekwueme and God will grant us the grace to achieve this dream while he rests in peace,” Iheanetu said.
Also reacting, Dr Chima Onyekwere, the convener of Citizens for Progress and National Development, described the late Ekwueme as a “leader worthy of emulation”.
Onyekwere urged leaders to follow the example of the late Ekwueme by seeking the unity and progress of Nigeria.
“He was a dedicated leader and we will miss him dearly,” he said.
A political analyst, Fred Ibeawuchi, also described him as a true democrat, who played a major role in the development and growth of Nigeria with resources at his disposal.
He said the achievement of democratic rule in Nigeria was an offshoot of Ekwueme’s dedication.
“Ekwueme was a vanguard of one Nigeria, true federalism and nationalism.”
Mr Chikelue Nwoko, a businessman, described late Ekwueme as a good man and an astute politician, adding that he helped Igbos and ensured they received the respect and honour they deserved.
Nwoko also described him as a peace loving man and prayed for more leaders like him.
Okorocha recently erected Ekwueme’s statue at the Heroes Square of the state, welcomed him into the Imo Hall of Fame and gave him Imo Merit Award.
