By Clifford Ndujihe, Dapo Akinrefon, Adekunle Aliyu, Simeon Ebegbulem, Dennis Agbo, Dirisu Yakubu & Nwabueze Nwankwo

Awka—THE torrents of tributes for late Second Republic politician, Dr Alex Ekwueme, who died aged 85 in a London hospital, on Sunday, continued to pour, yesterday.

Dr Ekwueme

Among those who showered tributes on the departed quintessential and cerebral politician, yesterday included Second Republic Governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo; former Governor of Anambra State, Dr Chinwoke Mbadinuju, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP chairmanship aspirants, Chief Olabode George, Mr Godwin Obaseki, Governor of Edo State and Mr. Jimi Agbaje, and Anambra traditional rulers.

This is as the opposition PDP, a party Dr Ekwueme played crucial roles in founding in 1998, yesterday, opened a condolence register for him at its national secretariat, Abuja

The register was opened at about 3 pm by the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee (NCC) of the party, Senator Ahmed Makarfi and other members of the committee.

In his condolence message, Makarfi wrote: “The nation and indeed, Africa has lost a rare gem, a nationalist and peace maker. He was a pillar of democracy and good governance. He was a founding member of our party, the PDP. Adieu our leader! May your gentle soul rest in perfect peace, Amen.?”

National Secretary of the party, Senator Ben Obi described Dr. Ekwueme as pillar of Nigeria’s democracy.

“How are the mighty fallen! The pillar of our democracy has gone, the finest and the most credible political leader has gone. It cannot be the same again. The gentleman who brought great intellectual touch to our politics and sustained our democracy has passed on. Rest in peace of the Lord,” Obi wrote.

To former Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju, the former vice president’s death is a sad reminder of the emptiness of life.

Mbadinuju who has left PDP for the All Progressives Congress, APC ,was special assistant to Ekwueme when the latter was elected Nigeria’s Vice President.

“It is with a sense of shock that I received the unfortunate news of the death of my political master and former Vice President, Dr Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme.  Though we will miss his elderly guidance, his ideals of honesty, hard work and humility in service will remain a fortitude to us,” he said.

Ekwueme and I disagreed politically… Nwobodo

Senator Jim Nwobodo said that even though he disagreed with the late politician on political issues, Dr. Ekwueme was a gentleman who played important roles in his family life, disclosing that his family is saddened by the death of the elder statesman and a family friend whom he described as a nationalist, courageous democrat, brilliant, principled and a gentleman.

Nwobodo said: “We were both Second Republic politicians. When he was then the vice President of Nigeria under NPN, and I was Governor of old Anambra state under NPP. Even though we disagreed on issues of politics, we were friends at personal level, to the extent that he and his wife, Beatrice, played important roles in our family life. Like in 1994 when he led political leaders across party lines to our wedding, as chairman, and we had since then maintained good personal relationship, in spite of our political differences.”

Nwobodo recalled that Ekwueme championed the creation of six geopolitical zones at the 1994 constitutional conference, adding that when the late statesman felt the military government was over staying, he led a group of 34 political leaders, referred to as G34 to confront the then military government.

“He was one of the founding fathers of of PDP and became the first national chairman of the party and later the Chairman Board of Trustees. It is sad that he died at a time the unity of Nigeria is threatened, at a time when his wealth of experience and wisdom of an elder is required to strengthen the unity of Nigeria,” Nwobodo lamented.

His death is a national loss—Bode George

On his part, Chief Bode George said: “The former Vice President was a genuine patriot, an outstanding statesman whose total fixity was predicated on the growth and development of the Nigerian State. He was a gentleman, a thoroughbred, civil, humble but yet radiated a powerful intellect and a scholarly presence, stripped of arrogance. His death is the end of an era, a sad departure of one of the very significant symbols of those who dedicated their lives to the service of our nation.”

Alex Ekwueme a visionary, peace-loving and a creative Nigerian – Obaseki

The Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki commiserating with the Ekwueme family and Nigeria over the death of the country’s first Executive Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme,
Obaseki described the late Ekwueme as a visionary, peace-loving and a creative Nigerian who contributed immensely to the advancement of Nigeria’s democracy.

“Specifically, his role in the struggle to return Nigeria to civil rule during the military era, under the dictatorial regime of General Sani Abacha is worthy of note,” Obaseki said.

He also lauded Ekwueme’s numerous contributions to human development through his philanthropic activities and added that his famous proposition for six-geopolitical zones for the country, has to a large extent, helped in putting in clear perspective, the common demands of Nigeria’s minority groups for a platform that will advance their interests.

Obaseki said that Dr Ekwueme will be greatly missed as Nigerians seek the best of ideas in the ongoing conversation for a greater Nigeria.

“May the Good Lord grant the Ekwueme family, the good people of Anambra State and all Nigerians, the strength to bear the loss of a worthy son as Dr. Alex Ekwueme,” he noted.

A big Iroko has fallen —Obiano

Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, described the death of Ekwueme as a huge loss to Nigeria.

Reacting to the news of the death from his Aguleri country home where he had gone to mark his victory in the last Saturday’s election with his family, Obiano said he was yet to come to terms with the reality of Dr Ekwueme’s death as it was hard to contemplate the void that his passage had created.

He said: “A great iroko has fallen. Nigeria has lost a statesman. Ndigbo have lost an illustrious son. Anambra has lost a father. But I have lost both a father and a friend. I have lost a mentor. This is a big loss on all fronts.

“I was close to Dr Ekwueme. I sought his advice on so many things and he was always ready to help. He attended every major events we had held in the past three years in our efforts to make Anambra a better place. You always knew where you stood with him on any issue. His death is a big personal loss to me.

“Dr Ekwueme’s life is an open book that should inspire generations of Nigerians who need a beacon to guide them into evolving as true patriots who are willing to make sacrifices for the greatness of the country. He is an icon whose place is assured in our hearts in Anambra State.”

We lost a principled politician —Agbaje

Mr Agbaje, in a tribute  by his Director of Media and Publicity, Felix Oboagwina, described Ekwueme’s death as a shocking and a personal loss adding that the country had lost a most dignified, erudite, principled and honest politician.

“My party, PDP, has lost a selfless and quintessential founding father at a time we most needed his usually wise and defining counsel,” Agbaje said.

Recalling their last meeting in October, Agbaje said that Chief Ekwueme had looked the picture of health, when they exchanged pleasantries at this year’s Ikenga Awards where the former PDP Governorship Candidate for Lagos State received the Aka Ikenga Award for Excellence, the first Igbo non-indigene outside the South-East and South-South to receive the prestigious Igbo award.

“His Excellency was looking so alive and healthy that it comes to me as a personal shock and a personal loss to hear so suddenly of his death,” he said.

Commiserating with the deceased’s brother and the paramount ruler of Oko, Igwe (Professor) Laz Ekwueme, and the entire family, Agbaje prayed that God would grant them the grace to uphold the great name he left behind and the lofty principles he stood for.

Agbaje described Ekwueme as the gentleman of Nigerian politics and a quintessential professional Architect who became a strong voice for democracy.

According to him, Ekwueme had shown matchless courage by joining other eminent Nigerians to form the G-34 at a time when General Sani Abacha’s brand of military dictatorship made it extremely dangerous to identify with democratic principles.

“He will be remembered as a completely detribalised Nigerian who was an unapologetic advocate for justice and equity,” Agbaje said.

A big loss to Ndigbo —Anambra monarchs

The Anambra Central Traditional Rulers Council have described Ekwueme’s death as a very big loss to Ndi-Igbo and the entire country.“In a press statement by Chairman of the council, Igwe Chukwuemeka Ilouno of Ifitedunu community in Dunukofia Local Government Area of the state, the monarchs said:  “The demise of our icon, father and brother, Dr Ekwueme is a big loss and setback to the country especially to the Igbo race, adding, it is at this moment of political cross-roads for Igbo people that the ideas and experience of Ekwueme is highly needed by Ndigbo.

“Ilouno recalled that during Ekwueme’s life time, he played politics without bitterness which earned him icon of democracy, adding that he ensured that the country remained one and indivisible by his actions and utterances.

“Ekwueme can also be described as an astute politician, gentleman, peace loving and highly educated. He remained one man you have a lot to learn from due to his vast and wide education in many field of endeavours”, he said.