President Bola Tinubu; Governors Charles Soludo of Anambra and Yahaya Bello of Kogi states; Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, amongst other prominent individuals have mourned the passing of former Anambra Governor, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife.
According to a short statement on Friday by Chief Rob Ezeife, on behalf of the family, Ezeife died at the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, on Thursday,
Born on 20 November 1938, the deceased fondly called ‘Okwadike’, was governor of Anambra State between January 1992 and November 1993 during the aborted Third Republic.
The statement read, “On behalf of the Ezeife Dynasty of Igbo-Ukwu, I wish to announce the promotion to glory of our most distinguished son, ‘Okwadike’, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, CON, a former Federal Permanent Secretary, a former governor of Anambra State, a former Political Adviser to the President and former Presidential aspirant.
“This sad event took place yesterday at 6 pm at the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja. More details about the deceased and the arrangements for his state burial will be announced later”.
Reacting, President Tinubu sympathised with the late Ezeife’s family, the people, and the government of Anambra State over the former governor’s death.
This was contained in a Friday statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
The statement partly read, “President Tinubu extols the towering influence of the former federal permanent secretary in Nigeria’s political landscape as well as his leadership credentials, describing his passing as a painful loss.
“The President recalls the contributions the late Chief Ezeife made in the shaping of public discourse and governance in Nigeria, as well as in laying the foundation for the advancement of his dear state”.
Also reacting, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide described Ezeife’s death as shocking.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, on Friday, the group described the deceased as a consistent purveyor of morals, justice, and equity.
It reads in part, “The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has received with a deep shock the passing on of yet another Igbo Titan; a one-man riot squad, an erudite scholar and astute bureaucrat, brave and thoughtful dogged fighter, an accomplished politician and former Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, CON (Okwadike Igbo-Ukwu).
“Okwadike was a consistent purveyor of morals, justice, and equity. He was a remarkable advocate of progressivism in its purest tradition. When the Moshood Abiola Mandate was truncated, Ezeife risked the military dungeon in the pursuit of justice.
“A detribalized patriot who warned that unless there is a re-federalisation of Nigeria and fundamental restructuring of the polity, Nigeria will continue to grope in the dark. Ezeife was an unwavering and steadfast personality. He was on the side of the masses, the vulnerable and the downtrodden”.
Also reacting, a former Governor of Abia, Dr Orji Kalu has described the passing of former Anambra governor, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife as a huge loss to Ndigbo and Nigeria in general.
The Senate Committee Chairman on Privatisation acknowledged Ezeife’s invaluable contributions to nation-building and extolled his leadership qualities.
Also, Soludo described the death of the pioneer civilian governor of the state as a great loss to the state, the Igbo race, and the nation at large.
In a press statement by his press secretary, Mr. Christian Aburime, on Friday, Soludo mourned Dr. Ezeife, recalling that besides serving the state as governor, he also rose to the position of a permanent secretary in the federal civil service.
Meanwhile, a former Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has expressed shock over Eziefe’s sudden death, describing it as the great fall of an Iroko tree in Igbo land and Nigeria.
In a statement in Abuja on Friday by his Media Adviser, Uchenna Awom, Senator Abaribe lamented that Okwadike’s death has once more robbed Ndigbo and Nigeria of a consummate advocate of people’s rights and equality for all.
Also mourning the former governor, Bello commiserated with the government and people of Anambra and the entire Ndigbo over the death of Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Onogwu Mohammed, on Friday in Lokoja, Bello said the news of the passing of Ezeife, a former Anambra governor and elder statesman, with profound sadness.
Also, a senior advocate of Nigeria, Mr Kayode Ajulo, in a statement in Abuja on Friday, described Ezeife as a man of unparalleled dedication and service to his country.
