The death of the former Secretary General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, SAN, has thrown the entire region into grief.

The apex body had described his death at 92 as unfortunate and a huge loss to the Southeast and indeed, Nigeria.

Also, some other prominent Igbo leaders who confirmed his death, including his kinsmen, are not happy.

Speaking with The Nation on the phone Monday, October 30, the Ohanaeze Vice President (Southeast), Ichie Damian Okeke-Ogene, said Igbo and Nigeria had lost a gem in Nwabueze.

According to Okeke-Ogene: “It’s so sad and unfortunate that we lost Prof. Nwabueze, SAN at this moment of our life. The defender of the defenceless and apostle of a corrupt free society.

“He will be missed not only as Ohanaeze Secretary General, one the founders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo or the Igbo people, but the entire country will miss his fatherly advice,” the Igbo leader said.

Also, confirming his death, a member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Afam Ogene, said it’s painful for him and his constituents.

In a text, the federal lawmaker said the former Ohanaeze Ndigbo Secretary-General died on Sunday.

Similarly, the President General of Atani town Union, (his community), Arinze Nzeli, also confirmed the constitutional lawyer’s death.

Nzeli said the eminent legal icon passed on in his Lagos residence, at about 4 pm on Sunday.

He said the eminent legal luminary had been sick for some time before the unfortunate incident.

Ben Nwabueze, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), was born in 1931 and hailed from Atani, Ogbaru local government Anambra State.

The Constitutional Legal Icon, equally, served as Minister of Education. (The Nation)