Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi, has expressed sadness over the passing of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mohammed Uwais, and the former Minister of Education and Petroleum, Professor Jibril Aminu.
Prime Business Africa reports that Justice Uwais died on Friday, 6 June, at the age of 89, while Aminu passed away on Thursday, aged 85.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelIn a statement released on Friday, Obi said the octogenarians were great leaders who rendered illustrious service to their fatherland.
Obi described Justice Uwais as an “outstanding jurist who upheld the rule of law and ensured that justice prevailed under his watch.”
The former Anambra State governor noted that Uwais made a significant contribution to deepening democracy in Nigeria through the popular Uwais Report, which laid the groundwork for critical electoral reforms.
“In the same vein, Professor Aminu was a conscientious educationist who also served as President of OPEC. I admired his bold vision to bring education to the grassroots through the controversial nomadic education system, designed to reach herdsmen wherever they were,” Obi said about Aminu.
He further described the late educationist as a revolutionary who worked hard for the improvement of access to education, especially for people in pastoral communities.
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“Professor Aminu was a man who saw tomorrow and understood the transformative power of mass education as a catalyst for national development,” Obi further stated.
He pointed out that Nigeria needs more of such visionary and committed leaders to tackle the myriad challenges facing the country.
Obi extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and the governments of Kaduna and Adamawa States, and prayed that Almighty Allah grants their souls eternal rest and gives their families the strength to bear the loss.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
