Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, former Minority Leader of the Senate, has moured the sudden former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by his media adviser, Uchenna Awom, Abaribe said Ezeife, spent his life, particularly his later days on earth, preaching for equity, justice, fairness and good governance in Nigeria, especially when he was most vocal on the Igbo question and their place in the Nigeria project.
Expressing shock over the sudden death of the former governor, Abaribe described it as “the great fall of an Iroko tree in Igbo land and Nigeria”.
The Senator, who is representing Abia South in the Senate, lamented that Okwadike’s death has once more robbed Ndigbo and Nigeria entirely of a consummate advocate of people’s rights and equality for all.
“Okwadike never hid his feelings and, as such, voiced out his opinion on vexed national issues as they affected his beloved Igbo. He spoke truth to power no matter whose ox was gored.
“He was a man of panache and candour who carved a national image for himself being a cultural icon, a brave warrior who loved our people so dearly.
“Okwadike will be sorely missed. His resolute and fearless stand on national discussion would be too hard to replace. Ironically he died on the eve of a day our brother Nnamdi Kanu was denied release by the Supreme Court. It would have been a fitting gift to him,” Abaribe said.