• Ngige: S’East betrayed him
David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka
Commercial activities were thursday put on hold in Anambra State in honour of the homecoming of the late former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, whose remains arrived in the state for a commendation service.
As early as 8a.m., which is usually the rush hour in the state, streets and major roads in the state were devoid of traffic and the usual hustle and bustle in the towns in the state.
Schools, banks, markets and other public institutions were all closed around the state.
The popular Onitsha main market, Eke Awka market and markets in Nnewi were all closed while traders moved to Awka for the service.
The remains of the late statesman was received by the Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, at the border town of the state, Amansea, at about 11a.m., and was promptly moved to the venue of the commendation service in Awka.
Speaking at the service, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari, lamented that Ekwueme was betrayed by his people, else he would have climbed to an even higher heights in politics.
He described the elder statesman as a rare politician who had zero tolerance for bribery and corruption, saying he would have occupied more political offices if not for his integrity and refusal to compromise standard.
Ngige said 99 per cent of politicians in Nigeria have degrees in bribery and corruption, with many of them reneging on their campaign promises as soon as they assume power.
“Ekwueme was successful in every sphere of life, politically, academically and otherwise. But when it comes to bribery and corruption, he is a complete failure. I score him F9.
“He suffered a lot of betrayal in the hands of politicians especially from his people in the Southeast because of his inability to play by their rules,†he added.
He described the late vice president as a humble, selfless and detribalised man whose life influenced him greatly, regretting that his type is very rare in today’s politics where politicians aspire for top positions without experience.
The minister, however, noted that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation who was to represent President Buhari at the occasion, was unavoidably absent due to exigencies of office, but said he would be at the funeral service today.
Also speaking, a former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani, said Ekwueme was one of the Nigerian politicians who ventured into the murky waters of politics with his integrity intact.
“They said politics is a dirty game but Ekwueme proved them wrong because he had a very good soap of washing the garment of politics.
“I can’t remember him having any case to do with EFCC and ICPC as most of us have. He maintained integrity in politics,†he added.
Earlier in his homily, the Anglican Bishop of Awka Diocese, Rt. Rev. Alexander Ibezim, said the greatest respect that could be accorded to the late elder statesman was to emulate his ethics – humility and political pattern.
He described life is a vapour, calling on all to be careful with the way they live their lives in view of the day of reckoning.
On his part, the Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, said the death of the elder statesman came to him as a rude shock, having lost his mother late last year.
He, however, said he would take solace in the fact that he left indelible legacy, including his ability to bring stability to the turbulent storm of political instability in the state.
Godwin Ezeemo, a former governorship candidate of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) in the state, said Ekwueme had distingushed himself in public service, and as an honest man, he had left a legacy of good governance for political leaders to emulate his numerous acts of development in human and infrastructural development which speaks volume.
The dignitaries that graced the event included; Senator Ike Nwachukwu, wife of first President, Mrs. Uche Azikiwe; Emeka Anyaoku, Tim Menakaya, Dame Virgy Etiaba, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Alhaji Sule Lamido, former Governor of Jigawa State.
