Eminent Nigerians, including President Muhammadu Buhari, former presidents Shehu Shagari, Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, General Ibrahim Babangida, among others, have paid glowing tributes to the former vice president, Dr Alex Ekwueme, who reportedly died Sunday night in a London hospital. He was aged 85 years.
His younger brother and traditional ruler of Oko, Igwe Laz Ekwueme, confirmed the death in a statement, adding that the Second Republic Vice President died about 10.00 pm on Sunday night.
The deceased, born on October 21, 1932, was reported to have collapsed in his residence in Enugu few days after celebrating his 85th birthday.
He was immediately taken to a hospital in Enugu from where he was flown to London for further medical attention on the orders of President Buhari.
Reacting to the death, President Buhari, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, commiserated 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 affirmed that Dr Ekwueme’s 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.
Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, in a statement in Abuja, described Ekwueme as a rare personality and an exceptional leader who dedicated himself to the development of the country.
In the statement 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.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, in a statement he personally signed, extolled the virtues of Dr Ekwueme, adding that the former number two citizen was a distinguished elder statesman, patriot, nationalist and a true son of Africa.
He, however, lamented that his demise came at a time Africa was in dire need of patriots and leaders like him as it struggled with various internal conflicts and passed through challenging pace in its history.
“In times as these, elderly wisdom, experience and guidance of Dr Ekwueme are needed by leaders at all levels so as to enable us to surmount the daunting challenges confronting us as a country and as Africans,” he said.
Shagari, in a statement in Sokoto, described Ekwueme’s death as a huge loss to the country.
Shagari described his deputy as a brother and a humble Nigerian who contributed in various capacities to the nation’s development.
“It is with a 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.
Chief Obasanjo described the late vice president as a great Nigerian.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Abeokuta on Monday, Obasanjo said Ekwueme devoted his life to the service of the nation.
“It cannot be gainsaid that, over the years, Dr Ekwueme had shown courage of conviction and integrity in his dealings at the pinnacle of national affairs, notably with his record of sincerity as vice president of Nigeria between 1979 and 1983 and as chairman of the Board of Trustees of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during my administration as a democratically-elected President of Nigeria.
“It would not be an exaggeration to state that with his exemplary lifestyle and commitment to noble and worthy causes, he rightly came to be regarded as one of the titans of Nigerian politics and an illustrious elder statesman,” Obasanjo said.
General Babangida, on his own part, described Ekwueme’s as a big loss to the country at a time his invaluable roles were needed for national cohesion.
Babangida, in a statement from his media office on Monday, said he was pained by the loss and received the news with a heavy heart.
He, however, said he took solace in the exemplary life lived by the former vice president, adding that the death had left a vacuum in the quest for true national unity and peaceful coexistence.