By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the National Chairman of the party, Dr Iyorchia Ayu have mourned the governorship candidate of the party in Abia State, Prof Uchenna Ikonne who passed on yesterday in Abuja.
Atiku, while mourning Prof Ikonne in a statement yesterday describe him (Prof Ikonne) as an erudite scholar of repute with vast experience in administration, whose contributions in advancing knowledge within the academic community will be appreciated by generations unborn.
The former Vice President of Nigeria recalled his last encounter with Prof Ikonne during which he led a delegation of Abia PDP stakeholders to his residence in Abuja.
In the words of Atiku, “He (Pro Ikonne) was at his intellectual best in the robust discussions that I had with his delegation. We shall miss his ever smiling face, wit and sense of humor which stood him out at all times.”
Atiku noted that as a strong member of the PDP, who should have led PDP to victory in the forthcoming general elections in Abia State, his death comes as a rude shock.
The PDP presidential candidate expressed his deepest condolences to his immediate family, all PDP members in Abia State, the government and good people of Abia state, who were working to vote him into power next month.
Atiku prayed for the repose of his soul.
Similarly, the National Chairman of PDP, Dr Ayu described Ikonne as a thorough-bred academic as well as an accomplished administrator.
According to Ayu, “I join millions of sympathetic Nigerians, especially members of the PDP Family, to mourn the passing Prof. Eleazar
Uchenna Ikonne. His death has come to me as a rude shock.
“The professor of Optometry was, until his death in the early hours of today, the PDP Governorship Candidate in Abia state for the 2023 general elections.
“He was a true friend, loving father and devoted husband who valued family over everything else.
“He was a thorough-bred academic as well as an accomplished administrator.
“It is a testimony to his leadership acumen that he was appointed (on rescue mission) as the rector of the state-owned Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, between 2014 and 2015. And in December 2015, he was appointed the 7th Substantive Vice-Chancellor of the Abia State University.
“Upon his retirement from the ivory tower, Ikonne joined the PDP, and was subsequently elected its Gubernatorial Candidate for the March 11 2023 governorship election.
“I extend my heart-felt condolences to his family ,the Government and people of Abia State as well as the PDP Family nationwide, particularly the Abia State Chapter.
“I pray for God Almighty to grant him eternal rest and to give the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss”, he said.
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