CHUKWUMA Soludo, a former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has called for instituting of Dr Alex Ekwueme’s Movement as a way to sustain his enviable socio-economic legacies.

Soludo made the call at a Colloquium organised in honour of the late former vice-president of Nigeria at the Federal Polytechnic, Oko.

According to the former CBN boss, it has become imperative for progressive-minded people to be apostles of the elder statesman to promote his ideals of selfless service in public life.

He described Ekwueme as a leader of uncommon intellectual ability, who gave Nigeria the six geo-political zones as a framework for national cohesion.

Soludo noted that his value in politics is a serious case study for Nigerian leaders.

He lauded Ekwueme for stamping his foot, hard with human face kind of politics in a political landscape dominated by men of easy virtues.

As a way to immortalise him, he called for upgrading of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko to a University of Technology to be named after Ekwueme.

In his speech, Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, represented by Solomon Chukwulobelu, secretary to the state government, commended Ekwueme for playing father-figure to Obiano.

The governor also hailed him for signing the rotational governorship selection formula among the three senatorial zones of the state, and for seeing things from the perspective of people and not from the perspective of politics.

Ben Nwankwo, the member representing Orumba North and Orumba South Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, said he was already sponsoring a bill at the National Assembly for a law to upgrade the Federal Polytechnic, Oko to a University of Technology to be named after Ekwueme.

Nwankwo noted that the bill had scaled through the first reading in the assembly.

Damian Okeke-Ogene, the Anambra State president, Ohaneze Ndigbo, hailed Ekwueme for giving Ohaneze Ndigbo life and  for suffering persecution for the sake of the Igbos.

Uche Ekwunife, another frontline politician, showered encomiums on the late Ekwueme for his contributions to national development.

In his speech, Iheanacho Orajaka, the chairman of the old Aguata Union, for the Dr Alex Ekwueme’s burial called for more cohesion among members of the union for promotion of their ideals.

Some dignitaries at the occasion include Andy Ubah, the senator representing Anambra South, senatorial district, Okonkwo Okom, the co-ordinator of OAU, Dr Ekwueme burial committee, and Zokas Aniazoka, a former chairman of Orumba North LGA.

– Jan.  31, 2018 @ 17:43 GMT