Politics
AS controversy continued to trail the claim by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, that the federal government had spent N1 billion on the late former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, the national chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Oye said yesterday that the amount was not enough for the burial of the late elder statesman.
This came as the management of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, founded by the late Vice President, declared two days holiday in his honour.
Speaking in an interview in Awka, Oye said Ekwueme deserved more than one billion naira burial budget from the Federal Government, describing the late second republic Vice President as a man who, on his own, achieved greatness.
According to him, Ekwueme was the highest ranking Igbo man that existed since the end of the Nigeria civil war of 1967-1970, adding that he made immense contributions to national development.
He said, “What is N1billion to Ekwueme? He deserved more than that. Ekwueme is worth more than N100 billion by his personal achievements. He was a rich man by every definition.
“If I were the Federal Government, I would not have pronounced the figure because Ekwueme deserved more than that.
“He deserved a befitting burial for what he did for this country. He was a detribalized Nigerian; very wealthy, but humble.”
The APGA national chairman suggested three ways the late VP could be immortalized, listing them as naming a major street in the capital territory, Abuja, after him; setting up a Foundation in his memory; and naming a federal university after him.
He commended President Buhari and the Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, for their efforts to ensure that Ekwueme received a befitting burial.
Meanwhile, in a memo to the polytechnic community, which was copied to the chairman of its Governing Council, Chief Lasbry Amadi and the Rector Professor Godwin Onu, among others, the Registrar of the institution, Mrs. Njaka Stella said that Thursday and Friday would be observed as work free days in the polytechnic.
The Registrar advised students and staff to stay away from the polytechnic premises as the institution would be used to host visitors, who would be attending the burial ceremonies during the two days.
Also yesterday, the Polytechnic, in conjunction with the Old Aguata Union and Oko Community organized a colloquium at the Polytechnic Auditorium in honour of the late elder statesman.
Among the speakers were the first civilian governor of the new Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, who chaired the event and former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Professor Chukwuma Soludo. – Vanguard
– Jan. 30, 2018 @ 18:11 GMT /
Tags: All Progressives Congress Awka Dr Alex Ekwueme N1b burial not enough for Ekwueme’s burial – APGA National chairman
