By SIMON EBEGBULEM &  Ben Agande

Abuja — President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, expressed sadness over the death of renowned political scientist and former Deputy Vice Chancellor of University of Benin, Professor Omo Omoruyi, who was also former Director General of the Centre for Democratic Studies, CDS.

Prof. Omoruyi, was diagnosed with cancer in 2007 and died in Benin City, Sunday night, at a private hospital, aged 75. Sympathisers thronged his GRA residence, when Vanguard visited, just as his widow, Joan, told newsmen that the family will miss everything about him.

Meanwhile, prominent Edo State indigenes led by Governor Adams Oshiomhole, former governors of the state, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Chief Lucky Igbinedion, and others, also mourned the late Prof. Omoruyi, describing his death as a great loss to the country and the state in particular.

*Pastor Eghosa Omoruyi, Late Prof. Omoruyi’s younger brother and Mrs. Joan Omoruyi, widow.

Similarly, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, also described Omoruyi’s death as a big blow to all lovers of democracy in Nigeria.

President Jonathan, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said that Nigerians will always acknowledge and honour the late professor’s significant contributions towards laying an enduring foundation for the current democratic dispensation in the country through the work of the Centre for Democratic Studies, which he served as pioneer Director-General.

He commiserated with Prof. Omoruyi’s family and the government and people of Edo State on the loss of the very distinguished academic and illustrious citizen, whose contributions to the nation’s political development would be long remembered.

The President joined Prof. Omoruyi’s family, relatives, friends and associates in praying for the peaceful repose of the eminent intellectual’s soul.

The widow said: “It is shocking, a big shock to us. I was with him most of the day before he died Sunday night. We were married for more than three decades. He was always doing his best as a husband and a father. I will miss everything about him. He came back three weeks ago from America but you know, while he was here, his health failed him. He was a perfect husband and father.”

A family member, Dr Festus Imuetinya, said: “It is no longer news that he had been battling with cancer, this time around after series of check ups in America, he came back, even when he returned, he was not strong. We tried to manage it until Sunday, when he had a crisis and could not survive it. For the family,  it is going to be a big loss.”

Oshiomhole laments loss

In his condolence message, Governor Oshiomhole lamented that he had lost a great confidant. His words: “Prof. Omoruyi’s death is particularly painful because he was a personal friend and confidant. I will always remember his unqualified contributions to my gubernatorial campaign in 2007 as Director-General of my campaign organisation and as governor, I was also able to tap from his wealth of knowledge in the governance of the state.

“His death has robbed Edo State and Nigeria of a forthright man, a great intellectual, a man who gave his all in his service to the country. His contributions to the development of our democracy remains indelible. We feel pained that death robbed us of Prof. Omoruyi at this point, when his voice and contributions to burning national issues would have carried immense weight.

“Even as we mourn, the people and Government of Edo State are proud of Prof. Omoruyi’s contributions to the country, as he was one of our greatest gifts to Nigeria.”

On his part, Chief Oyegun, said: “I will not call it a shock because we all knew he had been ill. His death is a great loss. He was one of those very intelligent and resourceful persons we have in this country. But I believe that he really never achieved his true potentials because he was a very gifted human being. We pray that the Almighty God will comfort his family. He deserved a lot more in this country, he was a very brilliant Nigerian, a man we are all proud of.”

Former Governor Igbinedion noted that Prof Omoruyi fought cancer gallantly “but lost graciously.” He described him as a “perfect gentleman, who contributed immensely to our democratic process. May his gentle soul rest in peace.”

In his reaction, a chieftain of  Peoples Democratic Party and former governorship aspirant of the party in Edo State, Mr Kenneth Imasuagbon, described the late Prof. Omoruyi as a democrat and scholar, who struggled for the entrenchment of democratic culture through CDS.

He said:“He was a detribalised Nigerian and a man that wanted democracy to grow, a lover of the people and a complete democrat.”

He urged both the state and Federal Governments to give him a befitting burial.  Prof Omouyi left behind four children and wife.

He was a committed patriot—Fayemi

Governor Fayemi in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olayinka  Oyebode, noted that Omoruyi served humanity and his country to the best of his ability as a democrat, researcher, teacher and administrator.

He described Omoruyi as a committed patriot,  who toiled to ensure the return of democracy during the Ibrahim Babangida administration, when he served as the Director General of the then National Centre for Democratic Studies.

The governor added that Omoruyi acquired international fame as a global scholar in the field of Political Science and served as mentor to the younger generation in the academia.

He described the loss of Omoruyi to cancer as very painful, saying that his administration’s inauguration of a Cancer Diagnostic Centre, built in memory of his late former Deputy, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka, was a step to fight the scourge.