Abuja, Yenagoa, Enugu, Owerri, Osogbo, Abeokuta – President Muhammadu Buhari has sent condolences to Nigerians and to the government and people of Anambra State on the passing on of elder statesman and former Vice President Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme.

President Buhari sent his condolence message through his media aide, Femi Adesina, on Monday, where he also commiserated with the entire Oko kingdom, the Aguata Council of Traditional Rulers and the Ekwueme family over the loss of the family’s patriarch.

Ekwueme died at a London hospital about 10p.m. on Sunday, according to his brother, Igwe Laz Ekwueme. He was 85 years.

President Buhari said Ekwueme’s regular counsels on national issues and mediations for peaceful co-existence would be sorely missed.

The president also affirmed that Ekwueme’s unwavering commitment to the unity of Nigeria had been a major encouragement to many governments, recalling the personal sacrifices he made in helping to lay the foundation for sustainable democracy in Nigeria.

Ekwueme’s Death A Huge Loss— Shagari

Former President Shehu Shagari has condoled with the family of the late former vice president.

In a statement on Monday in Sokoto, Shagari said that Ekwueme’s death was a huge loss to the entire nation.

Ekwueme was vice president during Shagari’s administration in the Second Republic – 1979 and 1983.

Shagari described him as a brother and a humble Nigerians who contributed in various capacities to the nation’s development.

“It is with deep sense of loss that I learned about the demise of my brother and former vice president.

“On behalf of my family, I sincerely commiserate with Nigerians on his death”.

Ekwueme, Titan Of Nigerian Politics, Says Obasanjo

Former President OIusegun Obasanjo described the death of Ekwueme as a great shock.

Obasanjo described the late Ekwueme as a hero and a great son of Nigeria whose life was devoted to service of his fatherland.

While extolling the virtues of the late statesman, Obasanjo further described him as selfless, disciplined and a patriotic Nigerian who lived a worthy and exemplary life.

Obasanjo said the late Ekwueme showed courage of conviction and integrity at the pinnacle of national affairs as vice president and as the chairman, Board of Trustees of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The former president said it will not be out of place to describe the late Ekwueme as the titan of Nigerian politics and an illustrious elder statesman.

Ekwueme Was A Rare Personality, Says Saraki

Senate President Bukola Saraki expressed grief over Ekwueme’s death.

Saraki said in a statement in Abuja that Ekwueme was a rare personality and an exceptional leader who dedicated himself to the development of the country.

The statement was signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu.

Saraki prayed God to grant Ekwueme eternal rest and give his family and the nation the grace to bear the loss.

He Was A Hero Of Democracy – Mark

David Mark, immediate past Senate President described Ekwueme as a quintessential leader and a hero of democracy.

In a statement, Mark said that the elder statesman was unique in character and leadership.

The statement was signed by his Media Assistant, Paul Mumeh.

He noted that Ekwueme was among the leading indigenous architects who designed the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

He also noted that Ekwueme relentlessly struggled for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria when he led the famous G34 that later metamorphosed into Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He listed Ekwueme’s exploits in politics and leadership to include conception of the segmentation of Nigeria into six geo-political zones for administrative and political convenience during the 1994/1995 constitutional conference.

Ekwueme Was Stabilising Factor In Nigeria’s Politics – Ibori

Chief James Onanefe Ibori, former governor of Delta State, described the death of Ekwueme as most shocking.

He said “though His Excellency, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, GCON, was a great leader, a national father-figure, a stabilising factor in Nigerian politics, I Chief James Onanefe Ibori can never stop asking ‘what if!’”

In a statement signed by his Media Assistant, Tony Eluemunor, Ibori said: “It is ironic that the nation that betrayed this man’s effort to rescue it from political and economic morass will, now that he is dead, begin to shed crocodile tears. Even those who betrayed the very effort to make Ekwueme president, may begin to, hypocritically of course, bewail the fact that Ekwueme or the Igboman or woman, never ruled Nigeria.”

The former governor said Ekwueme was an extraordinary scholar who earned multiple degrees in architecture, urban planning, sociology, history, philosophy and law from several universities.

He was a gifted architect whose professional legacies dot various Nigerian cities. In politics, he was both gentlemanly and fatherly, introducing mildness even when others had embraced roughness and irascibility.

We Lost A Principled, Distinguished Elder Statesman – Dogara

Yakubu Dogara, Speaker, House of Representatives, described the death of Ekwueme as a monumental loss not just to Nigeria but the entire African continent.

Dogara stated this in a statement issued by his Media Aide, Turaki Hassan, wherein the speaker extolled the virtues of the late vice president, stating that “the former number two citizen was a distinguished elder-statesman, patriot, nationalist and a true son of Africa”.

 He Was Great Man, Democrat – Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, in a statement by his media office, described the death of Ekwueme as a great loss to the nation at this critical phase of its political life.

The Waziri Adamawa hailed Ekwueme as a “great man and democrat”, adding that Nigeria’s recent history of democracy and nation-building would be incomplete without his input.

Abubakar said Ekwueme’s democratic credentials were of the highest quality, saying further that he was always called upon by political leaders in the country notably in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to settle disputes and differences and he never for once was found wanting.

 Ekwueme Was Icon Of Democracy, Says Dickson

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa said Ekwueme would be remembered by Nigerians as an icon of democracy who saw and used politics as a tool to serve and not to be served.

Dickson described the passing of the elder statesman as a monumental loss to Nigeria in particular and Africa in general.

According to him, the octogenarian politician was also a quintessential family man and a world-class architect, adding that posterity will remember him as one of the indigenous architects that designed the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

He Had Abiding Love For Nigeria – Ugwuanyi

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State said the death of Alex Ekwueme signals further depletion in the dwindling ranks of elder statesmen with an abiding love for country and humanity.

“We received the news of his passing with deep sadness and consider it a huge loss not only to his family but to the entire country.

“We mourn with his family and on behalf of the government and people of Enugu State offer them our deepest condolences and express our gratitude for their gift of this icon of democracy”, Ugwuanyi said.

Ekwueme Was A Visionary, Peace-Loving Nigerian, Says Obaseki

Governor Godwin Obaseki has commiserated with the Ekwueme family and Nigeria over the death of the country’s first vice president.

Obaseki described the late Ekwueme as a visionary, peace-loving and a creative Nigerian who contributed immensely to the advancement of Nigeria’s democracy.

“Specifically, his role in the struggle to return Nigeria to civil rule during the military era under the dictatorial regime of General Sani Abacha is worthy of note,” Obaseki said.

Ekwueme, Epitome Of Detribalised Nigerian – Okorocha

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo described the late former vice president as an epitome of a detribalised Nigerian.

Okorocha, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemedo, issued in Owerri on Monday, noted that Ekwueme launched the Igbos into national politics in the Second Republic and refused to be cajoled into playing tribal politics.

He said that after the civil war, Nigerians re-enacted their faith and belief in the Igbos as one of the major tripods of the nation through the late Ekwueme by electing him as the vice president to President Shehu Shagari.

The governor noted that until his death, the former vice president remained in the mainstream of Nigerian politics because of his firm belief in the oneness of the nation.

Ekwueme Fine Politician Nigeria Has Produced, Says Aregbesola

Governor of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola, described the demise of Ekwueme as the end of an era for one of the finest politicians the nation has produced.

Aregbesola, in a statement through his Media Adviser, Sola Fasure, said Ekwueme’s exit is a big blow to the nation, which wounds will linger for a very long time.

Aregbesola stated that until his death, the former vice president served the country in the highest capacity with such untiring gusto uncommon among politicians of his age bracket.

The governor noted that Ekwueme was one of the architects of the democracy we now enjoy, being a prominent member of a group of 38 elders who stood firmly to confront military dictatorship and demanded the exit of the soldiers from government.

Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme was born on October 21, 1932.

He got his primary education at St John’s Anglican Central School, Ekwulobia, Anambra State, and attended King’s College, Lagos.

He secured Fulbright Scholarship in the U.S. and attended the University of Washington DC where he earned bachelor’s degree in architecture and city planning.

He obtained a master’s degree in urban planning.

Ekwueme also had degrees in law and some other fields.

He obtained a Ph.D. in architecture from the University of Strathclyde.

He is the Ide of Oko Kingdom in Anambra State, where his younger brother Laz Ekwueme is the traditional ruler.

Ekwueme participated in the National Constitutional Conference in 1994/1995, where he served in the Committee on the Structure and Framework of the Constitution.