THE SAME NIGERIA THAT REJECTED LATE EKWUEME IS NOW MOURNING HIM - IBORI

- Ibori praised Ekwueme saying the nation is the biggest loser concerning his death

- The former governor said Nigeria would never know the examples he would have set as president of Nigeria

 A former governor of Delta state, Chief James Ibori, has tongue-lashed some Nigerians currently mourning the late former vice president, Alex Ekwueme. According to Ibori, the same nation that never allowed the late Ekwueme to rescue it from ‘political and economic morass’ is now mourning him in death. The former governor said Nigerians were shedding crocodile tears over the death of Ekwueme. A statement by Tony Eluemunor, Ibori’s spokesperson, called Nigeria the loser in the death of Ekwueme for refusing to allow him put in his very best.

To Ibori, Ekwueme lived a fulfilled life.

 “Though His Excellency, Dr Alex Ekwueme, was a great leader, a national father-figure, a stabilizing factor in Nigerian politics. “I, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, can never stop asking ‘what if!’. “It is ironic that the nation that betrayed this man’s effort to rescue it from political and economic morass will, now that he is dead, begin to shed crocodile tears. “Even those who betrayed the very effort to make Ekwueme president may begin to, hypocritically, of course, bewail the fact that Ekwueme or the Igboman or woman, never ruled Nigeria. “Ekwueme was an extraordinary polyvalent scholar who earned multiple degrees in architecture, urban planning, sociology, history, philosophy and law from several universities. He was a gifted architect whose professional legacies dot various Nigerian cities. “In politics, he was both gentlemanly and fatherly, introducing mildness even when the others had embraced roughness and irascibility. “If only we had allowed Ekwueme to rule Nigeria, what example would he have set? Now, we will never know…and Nigeria is the ultimate loser. “Ekwueme has lived a full life; he has given a radiant account of himself and we all agree he was outstanding.

May the Almighty God grant his gentle soul eternal rest and pour His consolation upon his family,” he said as reported by The Cable.

VOICE OF DELTAS earlier reported that a former military president, Ibrahim Babangida, joined other top Nigerians mourning late Alex Ekwueme. Babangida described the death of Ekwueme as a big loss to Nigeria, especially as he died at a time the invaluable roles of elderstatesmen are needed for national cohesion