Victor Ezeja
President of the Cultural Credibility and Development Initiative (CCDI), Chief Goddy Uwazurike, on Tuesday, offered condolences over the passing of Nigeria’s First Republic Aviation Minister, Chief Mbazulike Amechi, at the age of 93.
Chief Uwazurike, in a statement released on Tuesday, lamented that President Muhammadu Buhari failed to fulfil the promise he made to a delegation of Eminent Igbo Leaders led by the late Amechi who visited the President to plead for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). According to him, Buhari had pledged to grant their request.
The delegation of Igbo leaders who visited Buhari to plead for political solution and release of Kanu from DSS custody comprised Chief Goddy Uwazurike, first civilian governor of Anambra State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife; and a Methodist Church cleric, Bishop Onuoha.
Uwazurike described Amechi as one who played significant role at every crucial moment in the history of Nigeria and was a strong defender of the political ideals of Nigeria’s nationalists, and First President, Nnamdi Azikiwe.
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The statement reads:
“Cultural Credibility Development Initiative mourns the departure of the noble statesman, Chief Mbazulike Amechi. Chief Mbazulike Amechi popularly known as Dara Nwafor Igbo, was a great man by all ramifications.
“He was a recurring decimal at every crucial moment in the history of Nigeria. As a young politician, he physically defended the great Zik, for which he earned the name ‘the boy is good ‘.
“The most recent assignment he undertook was to lead a delegation of the highly respected Igbo Leaders to visit President Muhamadu Buhari to plead for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. The delegation comprised me, Chief Goddy Uwazurike, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife and Bishop Onuoha.
“Chief Mbazulike Amechi stated firmly that God blessed him with long life, and President Muhamadu Buhari with a second term to bring peace to Nigeria.
“President Muhamadu Buhari promised to give a positive answer because he would not say no to the delegation on account of the age of Chief Mbazulike Amechi. Sadly, this promise was not kept.
“We are in mourning, because a highly respected Eminent Igbo leader has departed without hearing from President Muhamadu Buhari that he has released Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” Uwazurike, a senior lawyer and former president of Igbo think-tank, Aka Ikenga, stated.
