Ekweremadu, Tambuwal, Ihedioha, Govs, Others Mourn As Akhigbe Was Confirmed Dead

Eminent Nigerians, including the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal; his deputy, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha; Governors Adams Oshiomhole (Edo) and Dr. Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) Tuesday described the death of a former Chief of General Staff (CGS), Admiral Mike Akhigbe, as a great loss to the nation.
Also, a former Defence Minister, Major-General Godwin Abbe (rtd) and a former Security Adviser to the Delta State Governor and one of the officers who served under the late Akhigbe, Real Admiral John Onoriode Kpokpogri (rtd), both described his death as a colossal loss, which would be hard to fill.


The late former military vice-president in the administration of former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, between 1998 and 1999 died on Monday after he was discharged from a New York hospital, where he had been receiving treatment for cancer.
But, Ekweremadu in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Uche Anichukwu, expressed shock over Akhigbe’s death, describing it as a great loss to the nation.


He said: “Vice Admiral Akhigbe was a gentleman soldier, an intellectual and one of the finest products of the Nigerian military. His role in restoring and nurturing democracy in Nigeria will always stand him out. This is a very sad development for the entire nation. Indeed, we have lost a gallant democrat.”


In his reaction, Tambuwal expressed shock and sadness over the death of the former CGS, describing him as an officer and a gentleman, whose contributions towards the restoration of democracy in Nigeria in 1999 would remain indelible in the history of the country.


“As a proof of his commitment to democratic ideals, Akhigbe continued to render selfless services to the nation post-1999 until his death on Monday. Nigeria has lost one of its eminent sons. I extend my condolence to his family, Fugar community in Edo State, the Nigerian Navy and Nigerians as a whole,” he said.


Collaborating Tambuwal’s position, Ihedioha said Akhigbe’s death would surely leave a big vacuum in the political development of the nation as the country would miss his wealth of knowledge, experience and statesmanship contributions to national development.
The deputy speaker also said his passage was a sad occurrence coming at a time when his intellectual resources would have been immensely useful to the country.


However, Oshiomhole said: “It is a with a sad heart that I mourn the death of Vice Admiral Akhigbe, an elder statesman, a pan-Nigeria nationalist, a man of uncommon qualities and an illustrious son of Edo State. He no doubt discharged his duties creditably and left huge prints in the sands of time.”


The governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr. Peter Okhiria, added: “In Edo State, Akhigbe was a pillar of support as he had cause to disagree with his political party on several occasions while championing a good cause for the state… His death has no doubt robbed Edo State and Nigeria of one her brightest minds.
“We feel even more pained that death robbed us of Akhigbe at this time, while we still mourn the passage of another illustrious son of the state, Prof. Omo Omoruyi.”


For Fayemi, Akhigbe’s death signified that the nation had lost a committed military officer, who served his nation with utmost sense of responsibility and patriotism.


The governor, in a statement by his CPS, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, noted that Akhigbe served the old Ondo State of which Ekiti State was part as military governor during which he executed projects that had impact on the lives of the people.
Fayemi pointed out that Akhigbe’s dedication to service led to his appointment to higher command postings as Flag Officer Commanding FOC, Chief of Naval Staff and CGS, which made him the number two citizen of the country between June 1998 and May 1999.


In his comment, Abbe said: “Admiral Akhigbe served this country with dedication. I was a member of the Provisional Ruling Council PRC when he was the CGS and chairman of the Constitution Review Committee (CRC) that reviewed the 1999 Constitution, which ushered in the present democratic dispensation that everybody is enjoying today. I remember him with fond memory and his death is a colossal lost to the country.”


Similarly, Kpokpogri described Akhigbe’s death as a colossal lost, stressing: “Akhigbe was an institution and my mentor in the Navy and I will never forget him. While I sympathise with the family, I also pray God to grant his soul a peaceful rest.”


Another sympathiser, Prof. Festus Iyayi, declared: “Akhigbe was an unassuming but highly effective man in his lifetime. He was not boastful and so was not often in the public eye. We may not have agreed with his political commitments but he was very effective and delivered on his promises. His family, his community and his country will miss him.”


Meanwhile, the House had at plenary observed a minute of silence during which prayers were offered for the repose of the soul of the deceased elder statesman.