Former Anambra Governor, Ezeife Dies at 85

BY SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Former governor of Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, is dead.

Ezeife died at the age of 85 on Thursday at about 6 pm, a statement issued by his family disclosed.

A statement signed by Rob Ezeife reads, “On behalf of the Ezeife Dynasty of Igbo-Ukwu, I wish to announce the promotion to glory of our most distinguished son, Okwadike, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, CON, a former federal permanent secretary, the first executive governor of Anambra state, a former political adviser to the president and former presidential aspirant.

“This sad event took place yesterday at 6pm at the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja.

“More details about the deceased and the arrangements for his state burial will be announced later.”

Ezeife was elected governor of Anambra on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), in the still third republic in 1992.

He served as governor until Sani Abacha, ex-military ruler, seized the reins of power at the centre in 1993.

Ezeife obtained a BSc in Economics from the University College Ibadan, and a Masters and PhD degrees from Harvard University.

He was also appointed special adviser on political matters by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo when Nigeria commenced its fourth republic in 1999.

Editor

Jude Ossai (JP) a veteran journalist is a National Diploma holder in Mass Communication from Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State. He also studied at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Enugu and Imo State University, Owerri for his first and second degrees in Mass Communication, respectively. He writes extensively on politics, crime, corruption, climate change, healthcare, human rights, social justice, among others.