…wants quick completion of ex-VP’s mausoleum
By Johnbosco Agbakwuru
ABUJA – THE family of late former Vice-President Dr. Alex Ekwueme on Thursday paid a thank-you visit to President Muhammadu Buhari, following the state burial the elder statesman was honoured with last February.
President Buhari with R-L: Minister of Labour Chris Ngige, Chief Laz Ekwueme, Prof. O.Ekwueme and Mrs Beatrice Ekwueme as he receives in courtesy visit Representatives of the Family of Late Chief (Dr) Alex Ekwueme, Former Vice President in State House on 19th July 2018
Ekwueme, who was Vice-President between 1979 and 1983, died on November 19th, 2017 and was buried in the 2nd of February 2018.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa, the family members led by Prof. Laz Ekwueme, the traditional ruler of Oko, the late former Vice President wife, Mrs Beatrice and some of the Children alongside some elders of Oko community, Anambra State, expressed gratitude to Buhari for approving a befitting state burial for their husband, brother and son.
Prof. Ekwueme said, “We have come as family, his spouse, children, members of the family and cabinet of Oko community and other chiefs and friends, to say thank you to Mr. President for the work he did through the committee he set up, under the chairmanship of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the presence of the Vice President at the burial itself.
“And the immortalization they gave in renaming the Federal University, Ndufu Alike, in Ebonyi State, to Alex Ekwueme Federal University of Technology and all the other things they did towards making this burial a special one.
“And also in recognizing the little efforts that my brother made in building this country. We just came to say thank you to Mr. President and his cabinet.”
Disclosing that the delegation was well received by the President, the monarvh said, “I did make a request on what they (FG) undertook to build – mausoleum for him and he (Buhari) said that the SGF will be advised on that.
“Having immortalized him by naming the university after him, they should now complete the undertaking to build mausoleum for him at his place of residence. And it is best for us to undertake the construction ourselves otherwise, if we wait for the Ministry of Works to do that, that may take forever.
“So, we can undertake the construction under the supervision of Ministry Works, provided the federal government pays for it. We undertake to finish it before the anniversary of his demise.”
On the legacy left behind by the former Vice-President, Prof. Ekwueme said, “I have no hesitation or reservation in saying that integrity, honesty, love, selfless service to the country, unity of the geo-political area called Nigeria and equity for all, justice and fair play, that is what is most important.
“So that this country will remain strong, United, fair and a place where Peace and justice reign. That was what my brother stood for and that was what he fought for till the end of his life.”