The country home Nigeria’s former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme in Oko, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State was on Monday wore an unusual calm as the news of his death filtered into the town.

When News Express visited the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, which was founded by Ekwueme, the students and workers were in mournful mood. There was unusual pin drop calmness in the area after receiving the news of the death of the elderstatesman.

Ekwueme's country home, which was a beehive of activities recently following the emergence of his first daughter, Lady Chidi Onyemelukwe as the running mate to the Anambra State Peoples Democratic Party's governorship cnandidate, Mr. Oseloka Obaze was securely underlock and key. while his younger brother and traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Laz Ekwueme declined to speak to visitors.

Even the President-General of Oko community, Mr. Cyprain Nwamuo also declined comment on the death

There community was overwhelmed with grief and in shock over the sad news.

According to a neighbour to the Ekwueme family, Mr. Lazarus Ikeme, his demise came as a rude shock to the community.

He said: “When we heard that he was sick and flown abroad, we nursed the hope that he will be return home hale and hearty because we felt it was a mild sickness that the foreign doctors would bring under control.

“Ekwueme is a father of this community, Oko and he has done a lot for this community that we cannot easily forget. I cried when I heard the news. We will miss him dearly. I wished his daughter won the election. That would have been a greater compensation for us but God knows the best.”

Reacting to the news of Ekwueme’s death, the South East Governors Forum described it as the end of an era.

In a statement by the Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi, Ekwueme’s death was a great loss to Ndigbo in particular and Nigeria in general.

He commiserated with the Government of Anambra State and the Ekwueme family of Oko in Orumba North Local Government Area for the loss and prayed God to grant him eternal rest..

The statement, signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Emmanuel Uzor, further reads: “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. He was a voice of reason and a man who toiled to place Ndigbo at the centre of mainstream politics.

“Indeed we have lost a rare gem, a gentleman and a decent politician and academia.”

Umahi said that the South East zone, through the governors, would soon draw a programme on how to pay the last respect to “the fallen political Iroko,”

On his part, Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano described the demise of the former Vice President as a huge loss to Nigeria.

Speaking from his Aguleri country home where he had gone to celebrate his victory in the last Saturday’s governorship election with his family, Obiano said he was yet to come to terms with the reality of Ekwueme's death as it was hard to contemplate the void that his passage had created.

His words: “A great Iroko has fallen. Nigeria has lost a statesman. Ndigbo have lost an illustrious son. Anambra has lost a father. But I have lost both a father and a friend. I have lost a mentor. This is a big loss on all fronts.

“I was close to Dr Ekwueme. I sought his advice on so many things and he was always ready to help. He attended every major event we had held in the past three years in our efforts to make Anambra a better place. You always knew where you stood with him on any issue. His death is a big personal loss to me.

“Dr Ekwueme’s life is an open book that should inspire generations of Nigerians who need a beacon to guide them into evolving as true patriots who are willing to make sacrifices for the greatness of the country. He is an icon whose place is assured in our hearts in Anambra State.

“I wish to express my deepest condolences to the illustrious Ekwueme family and the people of Oko, his home town and to Ndi Anambra in general. Ndonu Ndi Anambra. I pray that God Almighty will give us the fortitude to bear this grave loss.”

The Governor, while observing that the elderstatesman passed away at a trying period in the life of the nation, noted that his bridge-building talent was most needed now.

He further described him as the “architect” of a balanced Nigeria, saying that only few Nigerians living or dead could match Ekwueme’s contributions to a fair and just federation in the nation’s seemingly endless search for peace and equity.

He recalled that even in his last days, Ekwueme fought gallantly to ensure that equity prevailed in his home state of Anambra, speaking out fearlessly in favour of sustaining the geopolitical balance that has entrenched peace in the state.

According to him, Ekwueme’s legacy would never die because whenever the story of modern Nigeria is told, Ekwueme’s name would be remembered.

Also reacting, Obaze, the PDP governorship candidate in last Saturday’s governorship election in Anambra State, said Nigeria had lost one of its greatest statesmen adding that Obaze was a father figure.

“Ekwueme was a father figure, my father’s friend, my mentor and father of my running mate. May his soul find eternal rest and may his family, friends and Nigeria find the fortitude to bear this huge loss,” he stated.

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