Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has described late ex-governor of the state, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife as a man who believed in treating every Nigerian as one irrespective of place of birth or origin.
Soludo made the disclosure while speaking at the commendation service in honour of Ezeife which held in Awka, on Friday.
Highlighting Ezeife’s leadership qualities during his tenure as governor, Soludo disclosed that a Yoruba man from Osun State, identified as Adebayo, whom Ezeife employed in the state civil service has been promoted to permanent secretary by his government.
He said, “A Nigeria where nobody asks you where you are from. Where anybody can live anywhere. Here in Anambra, in the true essence of that.
“It was under your leadership that you employed one Adebanjo from Osun State into Anambra civil service and today under my leadership, we not only recruited 5000 teachers, which we have citizens from about 18 states employed here but we have also promoted that same person Okwadike employed into the civil service as Permanent Secretary in Anambra State.
“That is what Okwadike was about and that is how we are living up keeping the touch light and keeping the banner flying.”
On his part, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, described the late ex-governor as the “hero” of Igbo land, following his great contributions and service towards the well-being of the people of the South-East geopolitical zone.
Iwuanyanwu said, “He served Ohanaeze Ndigbo in many capacities. He was the Chairman of the Council of Elders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Northern zone comprising Abuja and the 19 Northern states. He was a member of the Ohanaeze Presidential Advisory Council MOPAC. He was also a member of Ime Obi Ohanaeze.
“We are honouring him as the ‘hero’ of Igbo land because of his contributions to the growth of the region and the wellbeing of the people. He was a true nationalist who fought for justice and equity of all the people.”
Similarly, former governors Peter Obi, Senator Chris Ngige, Okwesilieze Nwodo of Enugu State and former Anambra deputy governor, Dame Virgy Etiaba, also described the late Ezeife as a nationalist who fought for justice and equity of all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religion or political affiliations.
The former minister for Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, said, “In Ezeife, the Igbo man found him as one of those that told the story of a people. The sagacity of the late former governor placed him on the vanguard of unity and fairness.
“The issue of political equity and economic resourcefulness are still issues that need to be addressed in the Nigerian polity of today.”
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party Obi, on his part, said, “Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere and Dr Ezeife fought for justice all through his lifetime and this is the same justice that we are still fighting for in Nigeria today.”
Ezeife, popularly called “Okwadike,” was Anambra State governor from January 2, 1992, to November 1993, during the aborted Third Republic, passed away at the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, on December 14, 2023, at the age of 85.
