Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Thursday expressed
grief over the death of two notable Nigerians, Captain Elechi Amadi and
Chief Ojo Maduekwe.
While Amadi, one of
Africa’s finest novelist, poet and dramatist passed on at 82 years,
Maduekwe, a former Minister who took charge of three federal ministries
at different times and later served as Nigerian Ambassador to Canada and
Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the People’s Democratic Party
(PDP), was 71.
Saraki described Elechi as a literary giant
whose impactful life will continue to be of immense educational benefit
to Nigerians and the world at large. He noted that Elechi contributed
greatly to national development having served in the Nigerian Army.
He
also extolled the virtues of Maduekwe describing him as a
“social-political engineer” whose exploits in the nation’s political
landscape will remain evergreen in the annals of the country. “Maduekwe
was a brilliant, erudite and hardworking politician, a man of fine
intellectual background who was not shy to take a position on serious
national issues and will articulate the position to the admiration of
both his supporters and opponents”, the Senate President stated.
“It
is most regrettable that both Elechi and Maduekwe left us at a time
their intelligence and wealth of experience is needed to advance
education, deepen our democracy and political culture,” Saraki said.
While
calling on the families of the departed men to be comforted by the
exemplary lifestyles of the late ambassadors of the country, he called
on the Federal Government to immortalize them. He also prayed God to
grant their souls eternal rest.
Signed:
Yusuph Olaniyonu
Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, to the Senate President
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