The Chairman of the South East Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, on Monday described the death of First Republic Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme as the end of an era.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Uzor, the governor described Ekwueme’s death as a great loss to Nigeria and the South East in general.
He noted that the former Vice President’s death came at a time the zone and the nation in general needed his wise contributions and fatherly advice most.
According to the statement, Umahi commiserated with the Government of Anambra State and the entire Ekwueme family for the loss of their patriarch.
Umahi said, “The death of our father and leader, Dr Ekwueme is so devastating especially now that his fatherly advice is needed most. He was a great Nigerian and great believer in the unity of the country. As his children, we have learnt a lot from his deep political sagacity.
“As the vice President of Nigeria, Ekwueme was a great rallying factor of Igbo socio-political integration. We was a voice of reason and a man who toiled to place Ndigbo at the center of mainstream politics. Indeed we have lost a rare gem, a gentleman and a decent politician and academia.”
Also, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, has described the late former Vice President as the bridge that held Nigeria together for decades.
In a condolence message he personally signed, Bello said Ekwueme was a, “thorough administrator, decent politician and a nationalist who saw Nigeria as a project of unity”.
He said the late icon rendered selfless service to his fatherland, “standing on the podium of truth, sacrifice and progress all his life.”
According to the Governor, Ekwueme was an example of “excellent leadership.”
Bello expressed confidence that the Nigerian nation will immortalize the, “good name and sterling values Ekwueme lived for,” calling on the new generation politicians and Nigerians to “mirror the Ekwueme spirit of Service to humanity”.
A statement by Ekwueme’s family disclosed that the former Vice President died on Sunday night at a London Hospital at the age of 85.
