Geoffrey Anyanwu, Awka
19/11/17
Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State Monday described the demise of the former Vice President of Nigeria, Dr Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme as a huge loss to Nigeria.
Obiano who was reelected on Saturday for a second term said he was yet to come to terms with the reality of Ekwueme’s death as it was hard to contemplate the void that his passage has created.
Further describing him as an iroko, the governor said by his death, the Ndigbo and Anambra State have lost an illustrious son and father.
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 Ekwueme. I sought his advice on so many things and he was always ready to help. He attended every major event we 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.”
He regretted that Ekwueme died at a trying period in the life of the nation when his bridge-building talent was most needed, adding that as the “architect” of a balanced Nigeria, only few Nigerians living or dead could match his (Ekwueme’s) contributions to a fair and just federation in the nation’s seemingly endless search for peace and equity.
“Even in his last days, Dr Ekwueme fought gallantly to ensure that equity prevailed in his home state of Anambra, speaking out fearlessly in favour of sustaining the geopolitical balance that has entrenched peace in the state.
“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.”
Obiano stated that Ekwueme’s legacy would never die because his name would be remembered whenever the story of modern Nigeria is told.