TheCable

Olusegun Obasanjo, former president of Nigeria, says it is sad that Joe Irukwu, an ex-president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, did not wait to see the “Nigerian dream” project they planned together come to life.

TheCable reported that Irukwu, whose death was announced on Saturday by Harrison Eze Okorie, president of Amaokwe Item Welfare Union, was 89 years old when he died.

In a statement on Monday by Kehinde Akinyemi, special assistant on media to the former president, Obasanjo said he is “grateful to God for such a life well spent in the service of our fatherland”.

“Since 2018, Joe and I have been engaged in exchanging words, views and thoughts on a laudable project initiative titled, The Nigerian dream, which is to be put in the public domain for national adoption with the hope that it would be another strand of our commonality, unity and togetherness,” the statement reads.

“He was expressing great hope for his country through this initiative, but unfortunately, he didn’t wait to see our collective rigorous efforts on the project being brought to fruition.”

Obasanjo described the late Ohaneze leader as “one of the builders of modern Nigeria”.

“I recall during my administration as a democratically-elected president of Nigeria, Joe never rested on his oars in exhibiting uncommon courage and commitment to progressive ideals in his contributions to the political development of our country and national discourse,” he said.

“Until his death, as a prominent and vivacious chief and Igbo leader from the Item community in Bende local government Area of Abia state, he remained one of the most articulate and vocal champions of improved conditions for his people.

“In grateful recognition of his landmark achievements, the nation rewarded him with the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) and National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM). He also enjoyed great respect and affection from the corporate world, his local communities, hometown, region and beyond.”