From Kemi Yesufu, Abuja
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has described the death of former Vice President Dr. Alex Ekwueme, as great loss not just to Nigeria but the entire African continent.
Dogara in a personally signed statement said the former Vice-President lived a life worthy of emulation.
According to the Speaker, Ekwueme was a distinguished elder statesman, patriot, nationalist and a true son of Africa.
He however, lamented that the former Vice President’s demise came at a time Africa was in dire need of patriots and leaders like Dr. Ekwueme as it struggle with various internal conflicts and passes through challenging pace in its history.
Dogara expressed condolences to the Ekwueme family, the government and people of Anambra State.
The statement read in part: “In times as these, elderly wisdom, experience and guidance of Dr. Ekwueme is needed by leaders at all levels so as to enable us surmount the daunting challenges confronting us as a country and as Africans.
“Dr. Ekwueme was a philanthropist, a famous professional architect, lawyer, brilliant politician and a man of peace whose efforts in building bridges of friendship amongst the various peoples of Nigeria is legendary.
“He played politics of ideas, principle and purpose and helped bring stability as Vice President in the Second Republic.
“The late elder statesman was credited with the introduction of the famous proposals for a just and equitable power sharing in Nigeria based on the six geopolitical zones which ensures a fair, just equitable and stable polity.
“His contributions in the struggle for the restoration of democracy in 1999 when he mobilised the famous group of 34 eminent Nigerians who risked their lives and stood up against military dictatorship are still fresh in our minds.