Senate President Godswill Akpabio has described the death of former Governor of old Anambra State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife as a national tragedy at a time Nigeria would have benefited immensely from his wealth of experience.
Senator Akpabio made the remarks when members of the national burial committee of the late Elder Statesman paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja.
A statement by the Special Assistant to the Senate President on Media/Communication, Anietie Ekong quoted Senator Akpabio as saying, “the reality is that the death of the former Governor, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife is a national tragedy. It is not something that concerns only the South-East, it concerns the entire nation.
“Anyone who was not affected by his governance must have been affected by his worth as a national icon. He was such a national figure that whenever he spoke, the nation listened. Chief Ezeife was a voice for Nigeria and was recognized internationally.
“Sometimes I wonder whether the hopes and aspirations of their generation have been achieved. We were born to see Nigeria. We grew up to aspire to better the lot of Nigerians. We work hard to make Nigeria better.
“From independence till date we should reflect whether we have made Nigeria a better place than we met it. We must take stock to know whether we are moving forward or backward and whether at the end of our journey on earth leave the country better than we met it,” he said.
Senator Akpabio said the National Assembly would work with the committee to give the late Chief Ezeife a befitting burial by taking an active part in the activities to mark the funeral. He prayed for the repose of the soul of the late Elder Statesman.
The leader of the delegation and former Governor of Enugu State, Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo who intimated the Senate President of the plans to give a state burial to the late Chief Ezeife described him as a courageous man who spoke truth to power.
“We from the South East regarded him as a big icon because he stood as a bulwark to fight our cause to make sure there was fairness, justice and equity not just for the people of the South-East but for the whole of Nigeria. That is why we decided that such an icon should be celebrated in death,” Nwodo said.