By Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye (Abuja), Tony John (Port Harcourt), Paul Osuyi (Asaba) and Ndubuisi Orji (Abuja)
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the demise of the former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, who passed on Friday at 73.
In condolence message by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari commiserated with leaders and members of the PDP, the Olokoro Royal Family in Umuahia as well as the Government and people of Abia State over the loss of the former national secretary of the party.
President Buhari said the former national chairman would be remembered for his role in the nation’s democratic growth.
He commended the zeal of the Prince of Olokoro in sustaining the unity and progress of the country.
The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party and former Vice President of Nigeria (1999-2007), Atiku Abubakar, expressed shock and sadness over the death of Prince Vincent Ogbulafor.
In a condolence message, he said: “Vincent Ogbulafor was my friend and colleague from the early days of our great party, the PDP; a platform with which we won the presidential election of 1999 and 2003 and formed the federal cabinet from 1999 to 2003; a government in which we worked together to reform Nigeria’s economy after many years of military plundering. As a Minister of State of the Federal Republic, he contributed his quota with open mind in the economic reforms process that we embarked on,” Atiku said.
The Wazirin Adamawa described the deceased as “a cool and level-headed individual with a pan-Nigerian outlook to politics and life.”
He said the such attributes made the stakeholders of the PDP to trust Ogbulafor, to play the stabilising role in the party at its challenging times when he was given the responsibility of being the national secretary, a position he handled to the best of his ability thus leading to his elevation as the national chairman of the party.
‘‘Our party and country owe Vincent a lot for his services, and I am worried by his death because it has robbed us of his immense experience and statesmanship which would have aided our pursuit for peace and reconciliation among the members of our great party as we head towards another residential elections in 2023”, the former Vice President added.
Chief Whip of the Senate and former Abia State governor, Dr Orji Kalu while commiserating with the bereaved family, the government and people of Abia state, stressed that the late politician contributed to the growth and sustenance of democracy in Nigeria, having served in various capacities in the political space.
The former governor said the deceased was a notable political figure in the country, adding, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Ogbulafor family at this sorrowful moment. It is my prayer that God will grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss and repose the soul of the late politician”.
Kalu called on the Ogbulafor family to take solace in the fact that their late patriarch lived a purposeful life.
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, commiserated with the governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, over the death of Ogbulafor, said he received the news with deep sadness.
He described the death of the former PDP national chairman as a grievous loss that would leave a particularly broad void in the ranks of genuine lovers of the PDP.
He noted that Ogbulafor, who was also a former national secretary of the PDP, was one of the towering and outstanding figures in the country’s political spectrum, adding that the deceased would be remembered for his noteworthy contributions to the PDP and the country’s democracy.
“He was steadfast in purpose, total in commitment, flawless in character, and yet simple in manner. In fact, his reign as national hairman of the PDP was remarkable.”
Delta State Governor and Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, in a condolence message to his Abia State counterpart, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, commiserated with him, the Ogbulafor and the people of Olokoro in Umuahia South Local Government of Abia State.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olisa Ifeajika, said Ogbulafor would be remembered for his outstanding contributions to the growth of the party, especially from its formative years.
“The death of our former national chairman, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, came to me with shock, especially now that his wealth of experience is needed in our rescue mission for our country.
“He was a true embodiment of a ‘partyman’ who contributed immensely to the party’s growth and development.
“He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, political associates, particularly those whose lives he touched in diverse ways,” he said.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in its condolence message, conveyed through a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, expressed grief over the death of its former national chairman as well as former national secretary, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, who passed on in Canada, on Thursday, described him as a detribalized Nigerian.
The statement read in part: “Prince Ogbulafor was an exceptionally patriotic leader, a detribalized Nigerian and quintessential democrat who dedicated his skills, resources and energies in selfless service towards the unity, stability, democratic advancement and economic development of our nation.
“As the National Secretary of the PDP, Prince Ogbulafor played key roles alongside others leaders of our Party in laying a solid foundation for effective Party management and administration as well as development and implementation of our robust policy guidelines that led to key accomplishments of successive PDP administrations in the country.
“As PDP National Chairman as well as Minister of Special Duties, he displayed a unique leadership capacity in leading the PDP to effectively deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians.
“The PDP mourns over this great national tragedy especially coming at this point in our national life when our Party and indeed the nation need his wealth of experience the most.
“The PDP commiserates with the Ogbulafor Family, the Government and people of Abia State, the PDP in Abia State as well as the people of Olokoro, Umuahia South of Abia State and pray to God to grant us all the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”