Death has struck in two famous Nigerian homes, taking away political heavyweight, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, and literary icon, Dr. Elechi Amadi.

Maduekwe, 71, was born May 6, 1945 in Abia State, Nigeria, and was appointed Foreign Minister of Nigeria on July 26, 2007 by President Umaru Yar’Adua

Maduekwe was also appointed Culture and Tourism minister by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999, Minister of Transport in 2001. As Minister of Transport he got the nick name ‘Ojo oni Keke’ for advocating for the use of bicycles, although critics said that the roads were unsafe for cyclists and Maduekwe himself was pushed into a ditch by a bus while he was cycling to work. He was National Secretary of the ruling political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Popular novelist and playwright Dr. Elechi Amadi, best known for his work, The Concubine, died at the age of 82.

Amadi died in Port Harcourt after a protracted illness occasioned by multiple organ failure.

A source close to the family said that the arrangement had been concluded the Rivers State government to fly him overseas for medical treatment, but that his ill deteriorated between Monday and yesterday when he passed on in a private clinic in the New Government Reservation Area of Port Harcourt.

The renowned author was born in Aluu community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers state on 12 May 1933 to Daniel Wonuchuku and Enwere (Weke) Amadi. He married Dorah Nwonne Ohale (a midwife), 1957 and they had children.

He studied at the Government College in Umuahia, and like other major Nigerian writers, he was educated at the University College of Ibadan where he obtained a degree in physics and mathematics.

•Based on Vanguard and The Guardian reports. Photo shows late Ojo Maduekwe.

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