Former Vice-President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme

Rivers State Governor, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, Sunday described former Vice-President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, as a patriotic Nigerian, who had contributed immensely to the promotion of unity and development in the country.

Amaechi spoke at a special thanksgiving service in honour of Ekwueme to mark his 80th birthday anniversary held at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Port Harcourt.

He said: “I don’t see ethnicity in you (Ekwueme), if others have seen, I never see it in you, so we as Nigerians owe you a lot in that regard. Let me tell you that there are those of us who admire you even at the party meetings and one of the things we admire you for is your level of patriotism.”

Amaechi explained that at 80, Ekwueme was still fit to dip into his competences and experiences to add value to the Nigerian society.

“Be rest assured that some of us look up to you after looking up to God, and we will continue to keep the struggle that you are still struggling for, to see if there will be a better Nigeria, and I pray there will be a better Nigerian.

“An opportunity has opened up now, and that opportunity is the forthcoming constitutional amendment, and as usual Nigerians have started dealing with cosmetics not reality of power distribution, structure of the country, but reality of sharing what and who is what,” he added.

Amaechi told Ekwueme of his readiness to join him in asking fundamental questions that would consolidate the unity of the country at the constitutional amendment.

“And I think I will join you in asking fundamental questions, it is important that we ensure the unity of the country in a way to move the nation forward, and I will join you in that,” he said.

On his part, Ekwueme thanked Amaechi and all well-meaning Nigerians who turned out in their numbers to honour him.