President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday mourned the death of elder
statesman and former Vice President, Dr Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme.\
He said Dr Ekwueme’s
unwavering commitment to the unity of Nigeria had been a major encouragement to
many governments.
The President, in a
statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi
Adesina, described the 85-year-old who died on Sunday in a London hospital as
one whose regular counsels on national issues and mediations for peaceful
co-existence would be sorely missed.
He condoled with
Nigerians, the government and people of Anambra State, the entire Oko Kingdom,
the Aguata Council of Traditional Rulers, and the Ekwueme family, over the loss
of the family’s patriarch.
President Buhari
recalled the personal sacrifices he made in helping to lay the foundation for
sustainable democracy in Nigeria.
He said the former
Vice President 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 prayed
that the Almighty God would receive the soul of the departed, and grant his
family the fortitude to bear the loss.
The death of the
Second Republic Vice President was announced on Monday in a statement signed by
his younger brother and traditional ruler of the Oko Kingdom,
Professor Laz Ekwueme.
“The Ekwueme family
regrets to announce the peaceful passing away of their patriarch, the former
Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Alex Ifeanyichukwu
Ekwueme, GCON,” the statement read.
“The sad event
occurred at the London Clinic at 10:00 pm on Sunday, 19th November 2017.”
The late former
Vice-president was flown to London for medical treatment after he was reported
to have suffered a chest infection which left him in a coma in a hospital for
two weeks.
Born October 21,
1932, Ekwueme started his career as an architect after earning a
bachelor’s degree in architecture and city planning, as an awardee of the
Fulbright Scholarship, from the University of Washington in the
United States.
Over the years, he has
played several roles domestically and internationally, cementing his status as
a statesman.
Until his death, he was the Chairman of the
Board of Trustees of the Nigerian Institute of Architects; a member of the
Board of Directors of Canada-based Forum of Federations; and a member of
the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Council of Elders, among
several other positions.
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