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| Comrade Uche Chukwumerije |
Uche
Chukwumerije, a senator of the Federal Republic and Minister of Information for secessionist state, Biafra, has died. He was 75 years old.
A high-ranking member of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), the platform on which he was elected to the senate in
2011, confirmed the news to but gave no further information.
Chukwumerije was first elected into
the senate in 2003 to represent Abia north senatorial district on the PDP
platform.
GRAPHITTI NEWS reports:
Chukwumerije would later defect to the Progressive
Peoples Alliance in 2006 and was re-elected to the Senate in 2007. He
subsequently returned to PDP and retained his slot at the senate in the 2011
general election.
He was Minister of Information
during the military regime of Ibrahim Babangida, and held the same office
in the interim national government of Ernest Shonekan.
His family announced his death on
Sunday evening in a statement, which read: “In the evening of Sunday, the 19th
of April, 2015, surrounded by his family, Comrade Uche Chukwumerije passed into
the open arms of history, and of our Lord Jesus Christ, after a long but
gallant battle with lung cancer.
“His life is many volumes, which can
only be told with care and time, of dedication and focus, integrity and
discipline, and an unbroken love for the highest ideals of our shared humanity.
“Details of burial arrangements will
be announced in due course. We ask only for your prayers and good wishes.”
Chika Yagazie Chukwumerije, his son, is a judoka
who has won international honours for Nigeria.
Condolences
have already started pouring in for the former Minister of Information.
His
party, the Peoples Democratic Party, said it was “deeply saddened by the loss
of this great Nigerian, a highly respected statesman who has made immense
contributions to the development of our dear nation.”
“Senator
Chukwumerije lived a patriotic Nigerian and a brilliant lawmaker who gave his
all and discharged his responsibilities with unequalled forthrightness, loyalty
and commitment to the service of our dear fatherland.
“He
was a democratic icon and an outstanding party-man who remained committed to
the ideology of the PDP and the visions of the founding fathers.
“We
will greatly miss him. Our hearts and thoughts go out to his family as we pray
God to give them the fortitude to bear this great loss.”
In
a statement by his spokesperson, the Senate President, David Mark, said
“Nigeria has lost an erudite and extra ordinary nationalist.”
The
Senate President lamented that Mr. Chukwumerije was one of the brightest and
fertile minds in the Senate.
”
He radiated intelligence, exemplary conduct in both public and private life. He
was a team player who brought meaning to hard work . He was focused and
determined to make positive difference”, Mr. Mark stated.
“We shall miss him. No
doubt he left a vacuum that would too hard to fill. He was a consummate and
passionate Nigerian who believed in the sanctity of the peace and unity of the
nation,” the Senate President said. 
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