By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari has described First Republic Minister of Aviation and erstwhile federal parliamentarian Chief Mbazulike Amechi as a patriot whose lifestyle is worthy of emulation by Nigerian leaders.
President Buhari, who said this on Tuesday while speaking at a’ Day of Tribute’, organized in honour of Chief Amechi at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Centre, Abuja pointed out that the late elder statesman continued to intervene whenever the country was at cross road to ensure that not only the South East but the entire country is at peace.
The President, who was represented by Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige said that Mbazulike Amechi, popularly called “The Boy is Good” will be missed and that his demise will leave a vacuum in the sands of history in the country.
According to the President, “Mbazulike Amechi is an epitome of what every Nigerian leader should be aspiring to be. He was a man of peace and did everything possible to ensure that there is unity and peace in every part of the country.”
Buhari went further to narrate how Mbazulike Amechi, before his demise, paid him a courtesy call at the presidential villa in the company of some notable elders from the South East and requested that the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu should be released to him.
The President quoted Chief Amechi as saying that “The unconditional release of Kanu will not only bring peace to the South East, it will rebuild the trust of the people on your administration.”
He went further to recount how Amechi accommodated late Nelson Mandela, who was declared wanted by the then apartheid regime in South Africa, in his house in Lagos.
Buhari said that such gesture stands out the late elder statesman as a patriot and lover of humanity.
He pointed out that the history of Anambra State can never be complete if the name of Chief Amechi is not mentioned because he was a galvanizing force that ensured that the state is one of the largest states in Nigeria in terms of human capital development.
Also speaking at the event, the presidential candidate of Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter Obi harped on the need for Nigerians to emulate the patriotic and enterprising nature of the late Chief Amechi.
Obi, a former Governor of Anambra State, eulogized the deceased for his love for humanity and nation.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Occasion and former Chairman of Police Service Commission, Chief Simon Okeke described Amechi as a “true Nigerian”. He said that the president has tremendous respect for him because he saw him as a true Nigerian.
He said that Amechi was the youngest Minister of Aviation in the history of Nigeria and discharged his duties will all sense of diligence and patriotism, until January 15, 1966 when the administration was sacked by a coup.
Chairman of the National Planning Committee for late Amaechi’s burial, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu said the foremost Igbo leader lived his life gor the course of N’digbo.
He said “I have known him (Amechi) in the past 50 years and all his life he had spent fighting the course of the Igbo race.”
Chief Iwuanyanwu recalled that one of late Amechi’s last public outing was when he led leaders of the South East region to the Aso Rock Villa to plead for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) with President Muhammadu Buhari.
The former presidential aspirant further pleaded with Buhari to release Kanu saying “the planned Peace Summit in the South East cannot be complete without the release of Nnamdi Kanu”.
Present at the event were former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who was represented by Prof. Ike Obiorah, the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt.Hon. Femi Gbajabiamilla who was represented by Hon. Hon. Olubukola Oyewo, Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Water Resources, Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, former Senate President Sen. Pius Anyuim, former Anambra and Imo State governors, Chief Chukuemeka Ezeife and Achike Udenwa and Sen. Rochas Okorocha respectively, former Minister of Women Affairs Iyom Josephine Anenih, Sen. Ben Obi and many notable Nigerians.
Others included; Elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai as well as two former Ministers of Health, Prof ABC Nwosu and Prof Tim Menakaya.
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