Former Ohaneze president, Ralph Uwechue dies at 80

Ambassador Ralph Uwechue, a former President-General of the apex Igbo sociocultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, is dead.

Uwechue passed on Thursday evening in Abuja after a protracted illness.He died at the age of 80.

The Special Assistant on media to the former Ohanaeze leader, Ifeoha Azikiwe said he died at his residence in Abuja.

Uwechue was Minister of health under President Shehu Shagari during the Second Republic. He was also ECOWAS Special Representative in Cote d’Ivoire during the political crisis in that country, between 2000 and 2007.

He was equally the special presidential envoy on conflict resolution in Africa during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration. He was a renowned author and journalist and was the publisher of Africa Magazine in London.