It
was indeed a happy end to an eventful life as the remains of late
Second Republic Vice President of Nigeria, Dr Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme
were laid to rest in his compound in Oko, Orumba North Local Government
area of Anambra state at exactly 2:30pm yesterday, in a blaze of Glory.
The
internment took place shortly after a funeral service at the St. John
the Divine Church of the Anglican Church where President Muhammadu
Buhari formally named the Federal University, Ndufu Alike, Ikwo, in
Ebonyi State after the departed leader.
Ekwueme
was the nation’s first elected Vice President from 1979 – 1983. He was
born on October 21st, 1932 and died on November 19, 2017.
His
funeral service witnessed the presence of notable Nigerians from
virtually all the geopolitical zones including Vice President Yemi
Osinbajo who represented the president; former President Goodluck
Jonathan and wife Patience; former Vice Presidents Namadi Sambo and
Chief Ebitu Ukiwe; Governors of Gombe, Ibrahim Damkwambo, Delta, Ifeanyi
Okowa, Lagos, Akinwunmi Ambode, Abia, Okezie Ikpeazu, Imo, Rochas
Okorocha, Ebonyi, Dave Umahi and Anambra, Willie Obiano.
In
his message at the burial, President Buhari, said the former Vice
President was being celebrated because he practiced a kind of principle
that sets him apart from his peers, “whether they are rich, poor,
unknown or known – the principles of personal sacrifice to others,
service to those who cannot offer one, the courage of one’s conviction,
bravery in the face of terror.
“As
Vice President, he set an example of loyalty and dedication with the
love of the nation in service. After the coup that ousted the government
which he served, while his finances were thoroughly combed for
evidences and he was imprisoned unjustly, he went on to demonstrate the
power of principle which only one man can have.
“While
many hid their ideas and thoughts even in the darkest days following
the dictatorship in our country, he came out and offered himself as the
face and voice of the people and by so doing showed that the beauty of
democracy was more than the platitude of wealth, he showed that nations
are built on ideals and trusts.
“It
is in death that we are confronted with the futility of affluence,
wealth and power no matter how it is confronted. It is also in death
that we are left with the immortal legacies of those who by their
selfless deeds, courage and service to those who are not prepared are immortal; immortal because from the heart of men and God.
“Ekwueme lived in the hearts of those who are not prepared and those who cannot speak for themselves in tangible ways.
“No
amount of commendation can be enough from a nation which is greater for
the services of one of her own. We therefore offer only a token. And so
it is my pleasure to announce that in commemoration of the life and
contribution to the nation by Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme GCON, the
President of the federal republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has
approved and directed that the federal University Ndifu, Alike Ebonyi
State be now renamed and become known as Alex Ekwueme Federal University.
“To
the illustrious Ekwueme family and people of Oko, we thank you for
sharing this moment with us, we pray that you and your siblings will
enjoy and that many among you will be greater than he was in the service
of the federal republic of Nigeria,” the President who spoke through
Osinbajo, noted.
Earlier
in a homily, the Primate of Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh
lamented that integrity and honesty which were the most cherished
virtues of Ekwueme had taken flight in Nigeria insisting that for the
nation to make progress, it must enthrone integrity in its system.
Okoh
who spoke on the theme “Get into the Ark” and drawing his lesson from
Genesis chapters 6 and 7 said: “if you are in politics and you engage
people that lack integrity, you will not make any progress. Integrity is
the key and it has taken flight in Nigeria”.
He
urged the new generation of Nigerian politicians to imbibe Ekwueme’s
virtues especially his humility and constant contact with his community
in their dealings.
The
Primate also decried the alarming rate at which Nigerians patronise
foreign hospitals each time they were sick, and therefore appealed to
the nation’s leaders to help the country by addressing the failing
healthcare delivery system.
“We
spend so much in America, Dubai, Britain, India and other parts of
Europe and we can reduce this by 70 per cent if our leaders do the
needful. Our leaders must deliver us from health tourism. Our
independence is only on paper, it’s not deep, we must deliver ourselves
from over-dependence on other nations for our healthcare,” he said.
In
his tribute, former Commonwealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku
said Ekwueme left remarkable legacy in politics, national and
international service as well as private life.
Anyaoku
who recalled how Ekwueme led a group of 34 Nigerians to challenge the
military and later played a central role to the formation of the PDP,
said the departed leader was a true patriot and champion of democracy in
Nigeria.
“He
conceived and introduced the idea of six geopolitical zones during the
1995 Constitutional conference. He played a principled politics without
bitterness when he was denied the Presidential ticket of the PDP in
1998, he accepted the outcome and still went round to campaign with
Obasanjo,” he recalled.
The entire Oko town was shut down as all the shops were under lock and key in deference to Ekwueme.
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