Obasanjo, Otti, Ikpeazu Mourn Ex-Ohaneze Ndigbo President General, Irukwu

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia and James Sowole in Abeokuta

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti as well as the immediate past governor of the state, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, have expressed sadness over the demise of former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Prof. Joseph Ogbonnaya Irukwu.

They expressed their condolences in separate press statements yesterday.

According to Obasanjo, the inability of late Irukwu to see to the completion of a project initiative “The Nigerian Dream” with him was sad.

The late elder statesman and former leader of the Ohaneze group, died at the weekend at age 89.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, the former President said he was sad, because the people would miss his contribution to the building of a new Nigeria of his dream.

Obasanjo submitted that he was, “grateful to God for such a life well spent in the service of our fatherland.”

He recalled that, “since 2018, Joe and I have been engaged in exchanging words, views and thoughts on a laudable project initiative titled, The Nigerian Dream, which is to be put in the public domain for national adoption with the hope that it would be another strand of our commonality, unity and togetherness.

“He was expressing great hope for his country through this initiative, but unfortunately, he didn’t wait to see our collective rigorous efforts on the project being brought to fruition.

Obasanjo further eulogised the former Ohaneze leader and to be remembered for his hard-work, integrity and probity, “which contributed to setting the high standards that were the hallmark of those halcyon days that we all yearn to return to our dear nation.

“I recall during my administration as a democratically-elected President of Nigeria, Joe never rested on his oars in exhibiting uncommon courage and commitment to progressive ideals in his contributions to the political development of our country and national discourse.”

Otti said he was saddened to receive the news of the demise of Irukwu.

A statement issued by the chief press secretary to the governor, Mr. Kazie Uko, stated that Otti received the news of Irukwu’s death through Pastor Agu Irukwu, son of the deceased.

The professor of insurance, according to his son, passed on at the age of 89.

“Governor Otti, on behalf of his family and people of Abia State, commiserate with the family, immediate community (Amokwe Item), the entire people of Item Okpi and Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide on the loss of this illustrious son of Abia State and Nigerian statesman,” the statement said.

The Abia chief executive noted that Prof Irukwu had made “giant strides and left indelible footprints” in the insurance sector, citing his record as the pioneer Managing Director of Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation and founder of African Development Insurance Company.

He said that Abia was blessed to have an accomplished consummate lawyer, lecturer and author of several books on insurance, which earned Prof Irukwu the sobriquet, ‘Mr. Insurance’.

Ikpeazu also joined in mourning the first African professor of insurance, saying he received the news with deep sense grief and sadness.

A statement issued by the former governor’s spokesman, Onyebuchi Ememanka, stated that Ikpeazu described late Irukwu “an authentic academic Iroko tree.”

The former Abia governor recalled the giant feat achieved by Irukwu who developed Insurance as an academic field in Nigerial writing several textbooks on the suject.

He noted that Irukwu not only made his marks in the field of insurance but also became “a renowned and respected voice in corporate Nigeria” as well as in the legal profession.”

Ikpeazu noted that Irukwu “lived a good and long life complete with solid achievements in every aspect of human endeavor, adding that his death “has robbed us of one of our most prized human assets”.