Victor EzejaThe Labour Presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra State, Dame Virgy Etiaba, and ex-president of Aka Ikenga, Chief Goddy Uwazurike, have expressed shock over the death of Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, adding that it is a great loss to the nation.
Prime Business Africa had reported that Dr Ezeife, a former governor of Anambra State and statesman died on Thursday evening at the Federal Medical Centre in Abuja at the age of 85.
His demise was announced in a statement from the Family signed by Chief Rob Ezeife released on Friday morning.
In separate statements on Friday, Obi, Etiaba and Uwazurike extolled the attributes of Ezeife, who had a multifaceted career cutting across public service, academics, and politics.
Obi described the octogenarian as “an exceptional patriot, an elder statesman.”
According to Obi, Ezeife was “a de-tribalized Nigerian nationalist who remained dedicated to the cause of good governance in Nigeria and contributed immensely to deepening the democratic ideals of our dear nation.”
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Obi further described Ezeife as a “father figure” whose words of wisdom, advice, and encouragement greatly impacted him positively.
“In his death, Nigeria has lost a great soul whose kind heart and wise counsel are needed at this time of our travails as a nation.
“May God who called him home grant him eternal rest, and grant his family, and all of us who mourn him, the fortitude to bear his sad irreplaceable loss,” Obi added.
Ezeife: ‘A Fair-minded Nationalist’ – Etiaba
Etiaba in a statement personally signed by her and addressed to the Ezeife family of Igboukwu in Anambra State, described him as a “fair-minded Nationalist” adding that his death is a great loss to the nation.
“As a technocrat and a fair-minded Nationalist, Ezeife represented the best in us. He desperately wished to see a Nigeria that worked for the many and not for the few. Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife ‘Okwadike Igboukwu’, will ever be remembered for many leading roles towards the emancipation of our people, for which we remain grateful to God for his sojourn on earth,” Etiaba stated.
A Big Iroko has Fallen – Uwazurike
On his part Uwazurike in his statement titled “Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife…A Big Iroko Has Fallen!” described him as a cerebral scholar and motivator.
Uwazurike, who is the current president of the Credibility Group, highlighted the roles the First Civilian Governor of New Anambra State together with himself and other Igbo stakeholders played in fighting for the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
He said that he, late Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, Ezeife and Bishop Sunday Onuoha met with then President Muhammadu Buhari at Aso Rock Villa on 19 November 2021 and urged him to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to them unconditionally which the ex-president promised to consider but never did until he left office.
The senior lawyer expressed sadness that Ndigbo have lost great men and women of inestimable value in rapid succession in recent times.
“Some hours ago, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife died on the eve of the Supreme Court Judgment on the Mazi Nnamdi Kanu case.
“Indeed, we have lost a great man, the cerebral scholar, the motivator.
“The first Governor of the current Anambra state, the Political Adviser to the President, the public leader and charisma personified!
“Ndigbo have lost great men and women of inestimable value in rapid succession,” Uwazurike stated.
He mentioned some of them including Chief Guy Ikokwu, Prof George Obiozor, former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Prof Joe Irukwu SAN, Prof Ben Nwabueze SAN, and Chief George Uwachue SAN, adding that they “left solid footprints in the sands of time for us to follow. We shall keep the flag flying.”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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