Former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida (IBB) has described late former Vice President Alex Ekwueme as a pillar of unity, whose death is a big loss to the nation.
Babangida, in a statement signed by his media aide, Malam Mahmud Abdullahi, said “We lost Ekwueme at a time the invaluable role of elder statesmen like him is needed for national cohesion”.
IBB disclosed that he received the news of Ekwueme’s demise with a heavy heart but took solace in the exemplary life he lived.
He extolled the virtue of simplicity, which according to him, characterized the life of the deceased.
IBB said that Ekwueme’s passing had left a very big vacuum in the quest for true nation building, national unity and peaceful co-existent that had the dream of every Nigerian.
“His simplicity is a rare virtue; with his intellectual depth, I have come to know him as a man living a very worthwhile live built on values and morality.
“We will miss him; Nigeria needs people like him now than ever.
“I condole with the family of the late Dr Ekwueme, the government and people of Anambra state and Nigerians.
“I pray that God gives the family and all of us the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss,’’ Babangida added.
Similarly, Biafra Nations Youth League, BNYL, in a statement by its Deputy Leader of BNYL, Agbor Takon, has commiserated with his family and the people of South-east over the demise.
The group said the late Ekwueme lived a life of a true statesman and a life worthy of emulation.
“Throughout after his regime he was not seen playing dirty politics, he has the interest of his people the Igbos at heart and I commend him for that.
“He is one of the founding father of democracy that is now being abused. Our condolences goes to his family, and the Igbo people”, Takon noted.
President Muhammadu Buhari, has also spoken on the demise of the former vice president.
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