Jonathan, Buhari, Atiku, Ngige and Others Mourn Chukwumerije

Onyebuchi Ezigbo, Muhammad Bello, Jaiyeola Andrews in Abuja and Hammed Shittu in Ilorin


President Goodluck Jonathan, president-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) and former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar as well as the Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji were among the political leaders, who monday extended their heartfelt condolences to the Chukwumerije family as well as the government and people of Abia State on the death of Senator Uche Chukwumerije.

Others include Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, his deputy and Imo State governorship candidate, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, former Abia State governor, Ogbonnaya Onu and Senator Bukola Saraki and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate in Abia, Dr. Alex Otti.

President Jonathan described the deceased as a man of integrity who worked for the unity and progress of the country as well as an ardent believer in peace and political stability while alive.

In a statement by his spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President equally commiserated with the Senate over the passage of the senator.

He joined the deceased family in mourning the late patriot and nationalist who, according to him, left behind an impressive legacy of discipline, honesty, integrity and hard work in public service. 

The president said he believed that the late senator who had a distinguished career as a journalist, social critic, minister of information and senator, would be long remembered for his dedication and passion for a just and equitable society.

Buhari described the demise of Senator Chukwumerije as a diminishing blow to the generation of true progressives in Nigeria and the African continent.

“As a man of my own generation, I observed the progressive political activities of   Chukwumerije and admired the Pan-African interests and national patriotic zeal which dominated and dictated major part of his actions and pursuits,” Buhari said.

Buhari recalled that in the Second Republic, Chukwumerije parted ways with the ethnic and regional politics of that era to identify with Mallam Aminu Kano, the leader of the Talakawas (masses) and this “marked him out as a worker for national unity and a man of noble values.”

In a statement issued by his media office in Abuja yesterday, the former vice-president Atiku, Abubakar, who said Chukwumerije’s death came to him as a rude shock, described him as a fine gentleman.

“Senator Chukwumerije was in the class of those gentlemen you cannot but notice his outstanding qualities even when he stood in the midst of other men.

“His mannerism came across as someone who was well cultured. He was very sartorial in style and in presentation; and he never confused you about the disciplined background of his origin. He was a very worthy ambassador of his people.”

Governor Orji of Abia State, who described Chukwumerije’s death as a “monumental loss to Abia and Nigeria at large,” expressed shock over the death of the celebrated Senator and statesman who died of lung cancer at the Turkish Hospital, Abuja, barely two months to the end of his third tenure in the Senate.

Orji said the late Senator would be remembered for his outspokenness and fearlessness on national discuss as well as his invaluable contributions on the floor of the Senate in his efforts to build a strong and united Nigeria.

Governor Obiano who paid tribute yesterday to the departed Senator, said Chukwumerije was a presidential material that could have been harnessed but for the age factor.  Obiano however said the political leader acquitted himself creditably at the Senate where he served for three terms, describing him as a first class senator.

Obiano said the death of Chukwumerije at this time would deny the country of his reservoir of statesmanship as “his was a life of public service. He was preoccupied with the fate of his nation and worked tirelessly to see it attain its full potentials. He was not daunted by the difficulties of transforming the country into a great nation. His faith in the possibilities of our national renewal was palpable.”

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who expressed shock and sadness over the death of Senator Chukwumerije, described the deceased as a fine legislator and refined gentleman whose passion for the unity and progress of Nigeria is well-documented.

In a statement issued by his spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, the speaker said Chukwumerije’s deep knowledge of legislative ethics and practices was unequaled, adding that given his contributions to the development of Nigerian legislature, history will be kind to him.
The Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, in a condolence message, described the death of Chukwumerije as a colossal loss to Ndigbo and the Nigerian nation at large.

Ihedioha said he was deeply saddened by the event, noting that the late Chukwumerije was a nationalist, a seasoned Senator and a pride of the institution of the legislature as he brought moderation, innovation and respect to bear on that arm of government.
The deputy speaker said the late Senator’s contributions to the growth and evolution of the National Assembly would not be forgotten, adding that just like his stint as minister for information, he brought passion and determination to bear on his work.

Reacting to his death, Onu said it was a great loss to the nation as Chukwumerije was an institution on legislative matters and should be immortalised for people to understand the benefit of hard work.

“Oh yes he should. He is a man who was really interested in the finest qualities of our nation and he is one that presented himself as a good role model for the younger ones. So, immortalising him would be very important by getting Nigerians to rediscover themselves in terms of those values that made us great in the past which for sometime we have tended to discard.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Senator Bukola Saraki has described the death of Senator Chukwumerije as shocking and saddening.

Saraki in a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists in Ilorin, Kwara State, yesterday, said he received Chukwumerije’s death with rude shock.

“In my relationship with him as a colleague in the last four years, he was one of the Senators that was well respected when sensitive national issues are brought up for discussion, due to his wealth of experience, coupled with his spirit of commitment to our nation.
Also, the Abia State governorship candidate of the APGA, Otti, condoled with the family of Chukwumerije, describing him as a great Nigerian.

Otti described  the senator’s death as a huge loss to Abia, Ndigbo and Nigeria as a whole, saying Ndigbo has lost a vibrant, fearless, outspoken, dogged and veteran politician, whose views on national issues were highly respected.

He described the late senator as an eminent Nigerian, who believed in a united and indivisible Nigeria founded on the principle of equity, justice and fairness.

The Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Lands and Urban Development, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, yesterday described the death of Senator Chukwumerije as unfortunate, noting that he left an enviable legacy.

He observed that Chukwumerije “will be remembered for standing firm in defence of policies that will benefit the downtrodden in the society.
“He was outspoken as the Senate Committee Chairman on Education, especially during the committee’s oversight functions. He wanted the best for our educational system,” Ashafa said.