Governor Willie Obiano Receiving Former President His Excellency Goodluck Ebele Jonathan accompanied by his wife, Former first Lady, Her Excellency Dame Patience Jonathan as their Helicopter landed inside Fed Poly Oko, to attend the burial of Late Elder States Man Chief Dr Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme GCON (Ide Anambra)...
Can you see the Humility of Governor Willie Obiano as he greets The Former President!!!
Anambra Nwere Madu.
#AduiePaEkwueme
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| ALEX IFEANYICHUKWU EKWUEME |
He was born on October 21, 1932 in Oko, Orumba North Local Government of Anambra State and died on November 19, 2017 (aged 85) in London, United Kingdom.
PERSONAL LIFE AND EDUCATION
Dr. Alex Ekwueme started primary school at the St John's Anglican Central School, at Ekwulobia, then he proceeded to King's College, Lagos.
As an awardee of the Fulbright Scholarship in the United States of America (being one of the first Nigerians to gain the award), He attended the University of Washington where he earned Bachelor's Degree in #Architecture and city planning. He obtained his master's degree in urban planning. Dr. Ekwueme also earned degrees in sociology, history, philosophy and law from the University of London. He later proceeded to obtain a Ph.D. in ARCHITECTURE from the University of Strathclyde, before gaining the BL (honours) degree from the Nigerian Law School.
CAREER
Ekwueme was a distinguished architect. He started his professional career as an Assistant Architect with a Seattle-based firm, Leo A. Daly and Associates, and also with the London based firm Nickson and Partners. On his return to Nigeria, he joined ESSO West Africa, Lagos, overseeing the Construction and Maintenance department.
He then went on to create a successful private business with his firm - Ekwueme Associates, Architects and Town Planners, the first indigenous architectural firm in Nigeria. His practice flourished with 16 offices spread all over Nigeria and was wound up in preparation for Dr. Ekwueme assuming office as the first executive Vice President of Nigeria. Dr. Ekwueme had presided over the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) and the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON).
He was Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA). Before he gained National and International limelight as the Vice President of Nigeria in 1979, he was actively involved in the socio-economic development of his community. In addition to his many public service roles within his community, Dr. Ekwueme started an active Educational Trust Fund that has been responsible for sponsoring the education of several hundred youths to universities in Nigeria and abroad.
Dr. Ekwueme was a member of the housing sub-committee of the Adebo Salaries and Wages Review Commission. He also served for many years on the board of the Anambra State Housing Development Authority On the national front. Dr. Ekwueme participated in the Nigeria National Constitutional Conference (NCC) in Abuja, where he served on the Committee on the Structure and Framework of the Constitution.
His famous proposals at the NCC for a just and equitable power sharing in Nigeria based on the six geopolitical zones have now come to be accepted as necessary for maintaining a stable Nigerian polity. Dr Ekwueme mobilized the group of 34 eminent Nigerians who risked their lives to stand up against the dictatorship of General Sani Abacha during the era of military rule in Nigeria. He was the founding Chairman of the ruling party in Nigeria and was the first Chairman of the party's Board of Trustees. Dr. Ekwueme was a prolific philanthropist, public servant, and a man of peace.
He was a member of the Board of Directors of Canada-based Forum of Federations. He was also a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Council of Elders. Dr. Ekwueme was leader of the team assembled by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) for pre-election monitoring for the parliamentary election in Zimbabwe in 2000. He was the leader of the Organisation of Africa Unity (OAU) observer team to the Tanzanian Presidential and Parliamentary election in 2000.
Dr. Ekwueme co-led the 28 member NDI/Carter Centre sponsored Observer Team to the Liberian Presidential run-off election in 2005. Most recently Dr Ekwueme was called upon by the ruling party in Nigeria to head the Reconciliation Committee in the wake of intra-party discord and after the recent presidential election. He was honoured with the Order of the Republic of Guinea and Nigeria, second highest national honours of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON). Dr. Ekwueme was the benefactor and Patron of the "Alex Ekwueme Foundation".
Dr. Ekwueme co-led the 28 member NDI/Carter Centre sponsored Observer Team to the Liberian Presidential run-off election in 2005. Most recently Dr Ekwueme was called upon by the ruling party in Nigeria to head the Reconciliation Committee in the wake of intra-party discord and after the recent presidential election. He was honoured with the Order of the Republic of Guinea and Nigeria, second highest national honours of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON). Dr. Ekwueme was the benefactor and Patron of the "Alex Ekwueme Foundation".
Indeed, he was one of the greatest men in the history of NIGERIA.
He's a great Icon.
#AdieuPaEkwueme
#PoliticalArchitect
As part of the funeral arrangements for the late Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme (GCON), Anambra State government has announced that there would be a state-wide public holiday on 1st February 2018.
Professor Solo Chukwulobelu, Secretary to Government of Anambra State announced this Sunday in a press statement made available to Colossus Gist in Awka.
The statement read,
“Please note that Thursday, February 1st, 2018 is work free day in Anambra state. All markets and businesses will be closed on that day to enable Ndi Anambra, friends, associates and well wishers to pay our last respects to the late Vice President.
“All those attending the commendation ceremony including various social, cultural, religious, political, professional, educational groups, market men and women, and all other groups are to be seated by 10am prompt at Ekwueme Square.”
Lets recall that Dr. Ekwueme died in a UK hospital after a brief illness in November 2017, and would be buried on 2nd February 2018 in his country home, Oko, Orumba North local government of Anambra State.
The presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, has on Monday, received the body of former Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme, ahead of his burial in Anambra state.
Dr. Ekweme who was born on October 21, 1932 in Oko, Orumba North Local Government of Anambra State, died in a London hospital at 10pm on Sunday, November 19, 2017.
See more photos below, courtesy of Olatunji Obasa
Source
PUNCH
Ike Ekweremadu, Nigeria’s deputy senate president, has expressed grief over the demise of former Vice President of Nigeria, Chief Alex Ekwueme.
Ekweremadu described the death as a sad event for Nigeria and her democracy, noting that Ide Oko, as he called him, was a pillar of the nation’s democracy and the struggle for a restructured, just, equitable, and prosperous Nigeria.
He said:
“Dr. Ekwueme combined the uncommon toughness and courage of Heracles with the wits of Odysseus and Nestor. His fearless battle against military rule as the convener of the Group of 34 eminent Nigerians (G-34) can be likened to Heracles’ heroic encounter with the hydra-headed chthonic monsters.
“Ekwueme was a fine gentleman and an epitome of politics without bitterness.
Although he lost the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), an offshoot of the G34 and pan-Nigerian political platform he built from the scratch, he remained faithful to the party in thick and thin until his death.
“He will be remembered as a public administrator per excellence and a soldier of conscience. He stood by his people during their most challenging and difficult time, knowing that politics has a local flavor most of the time.
“He offered his undiluted professional service in the design and development of access to the air for Ndigbo during the civil war 1967 to 1970. As the Head of Planning of the Biafra Airports Board, the late prodigy built two functional airports in Ulli and Uga, while the airport projects at Mbaise, Ntigha Ngwa, Umuleri, and Arochukwu were at various completion stages before the end of hostilities.
“Yet, as a detribalized and pan-Nigerian, he joined the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) rather than the Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe’s Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP) in the journey to the Second Republic.
He also did Ndigbo a great honour by facilitating the state pardon and eventual return from exile, and reunion of late Ezeigbo Gburugbu, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, with Ndigbo and Nigeria”.
The Senator added that Ekwueme bequeathed a legacy of integrity and strength of character as
“he was until his death reputed to have left Office as the Vice President of Nigeria poorer”.
While condoling the Ekwueme family, Government and people of Anambra State, and indeed the entire nation on the great loss, Ekweremadu prayed God to grant the deceased a peaceful repose.
Similarly, the Senator representing Anambra South senatorial district at the National Assembly, Dr. Andy Uba, has described the exit of Ekwueme as
“loss of a great iconic figure”.
In a press statement he signed, Uba who is currently representing the immediate constituency of the late Vice President, condoled the family, the senatorial district and Nigeria at large.
“I want to sincerely condole with the family of Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, GCON and the people of Anambra South Senatorial Zone, Anambra State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on the loss of this great Iconic figure and Former Vice President of Nigeria”,
Uba said.
“Ekwueme’s selfless contributions to Nigeria’s democracy cannot be overemphasized. I therefore honour his legacy and mourn his loss alongside his family and the people of Nigeria. “I pray that the Almighty God grant us the fortitude to bear this great loss”.
Former Vice President of Nigeria, Dr Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme is dead. Ekwueme, who was Nigeria’s Vice President between 1979 and 1983, died on Sunday in a London clinic, United Kingdom.
Ekwueme had slumped in his Enugu residence after which he was flown to London in an air ambulance last week.
A statement from his family signed by his brother and the traditional ruler of Oko in Anambra State, Igwe Laz Ekwueme said that he died by 10:00pm in a London clinic, Sunday.
The statement read: “Ekwueme family regrets to announce the peaceful passing away of their patriarch, the former Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Dr Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme GCON.
“The sad event occurred at the London Clinic at 10:00 pm on Sunday 19th November 2017.”
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