President Muhammadu Buhari led other prominent Nigerians yesterday to eulogise the late elder statesman and former minister of Aviation in the first republic, Chief Mbazulike Amechi.
Besides Buhari, presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) Mr. Peter Obi, former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika among others, eulogised Amechi who died last year.
They described his lifestyle as being worthy of emulation by Nigerian leaders.
Buhari, who was represented by Minister of Labour and Employment Senator Chris Ngige, said that the late elder statesman made critical interventions whenever the country was at crossroads.
He said the late former federal parliamentarian always sought to ensure that there is peace, not only in the South East, but the entire country.
The president said “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.”
He recalled how Amechi led some notable South East elders to the presidential villa to seek the release of detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Buhari 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 in your administration.”
On his part, Obi said the deceased was known for his love for humanity and nation and charged Nigerian leaders to follow in the elder statesman’s footsteps.
Chairman of the occasion, Chief Simon Okeke described Amechi as a “true Nigerian,” noting that President Buhari has tremendous respect for him because he saw him as a true Nigerian.
Okeke, former Chairman of Police Service Commission said as the youngest Minister of Aviation in the Nigeria’s history, Amechi discharged his duties with 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, stating that one of late Amechi’s last public outing was at Aso Rock where he pleaded for the release of IPOB leader
He pleaded with Buhari to heed Amechi’s request and release Kanu.
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