Ume-Ezeoke: When death comes calling
From far away India to Abuja and down to the most remote parts of the Amichi community in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, the reported death, after a prolonged illness, of former National Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, in a yet-to-be-named Indian hospital on Monday, August […]
From far away India to Abuja and down to the most remote parts of the Amichi community in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, the reported death, after a prolonged illness, of former National Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, in a yet-to-be-named Indian hospital on Monday, August 1, 2011, has taken some of those who knew him well enough by surprise. Hitherto, not much was often heard or read about his ill-health, but suddenly, the report of his demise is seen as very surprising and shocking.
Aged 76, the late politician who was Speaker, House of Representatives during the President Shehu Shagari-led administration in the Second Republic, although he later became a presidential aspirant on the platform of the ANPP in 2003 before he eventually got elected as its national chairman. Later, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu was elected to succeed him as national chairman. Ume-Ezeoke was also the running mate to the ANPP’s presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari in the general election of 2007.
Although he was said to have contributed to the development of Nigeria’s modern democracy, Sunday Trust recalls that millions of Nigerians may not quickly forget Ume-Ezeoke’s role in the disharmonious Government of National Unity (GNU) into which he dragged the ANPP as its then national chairman during President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s administration. However, the party dissociated itself from the GNU, insisting that he was on his own.
Ume-Ezeoke was roundly lampooned by his critics when it was later realised that he apparently joined the GNU mainly to serve his own purpose, having reportedly submitted his son, Chinemerem’s curriculum vitae to Yar’Adua who eventually appointed the younger Ume-Ezeoke his (Yar’Adua’s) Special Adviser on Civil Society Relations. Certain school of thought felt that his fraternizing or flirting with the GNU was not unconnected to Buhari’s defection from the ANPP which, in the first place, ought to have provided a strong opposition to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Former President General of the pan Igbo apex organisation, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Dr. Dozie Ikedife , who also contested on the platform of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) against Ume-Ezeoke who ran under the banner of the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) in 1979, described the late politician as “an compromising politician who has always believed in the unity of the country.”
Ikedife said he had known Ume-Ezeokes for many years because he used to treat some members of the family. “You could call him a flexible politician in the sense that he was not the rigid type; he believed that one person would always win in an election and the winner should be encouraged rather than attacked,” Ikedife said.
He further described him as a misunderstood politician, noting that his flexible and compromising type of politics must have made him to distance himself from quite a majority of the ANPP members when he eventually decided to re-join the PDP-led government of national unity under then president Yar’Adua. “Ume-Ezeoke was a man who swam the lenght, breath and depth of the ocean of Nigerian politics. He was able to manage his office as the then Speaker, House of Representatives to the extent that when he faced threats of impeachment from the legislators, he was able to scale through it,” he recalled.
While President Goodluck Jonathan saw Ume-Ezeoke as “a true democrat who contributed to the advancement of the country’s political development”, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State regarded his demise as “a great loss to Nigeria”. Obi added, “We shall greatly miss him and his wealth of experience. I join other Nigerians to mourn his passing away. It is another dark moment for Nigeria and Anambra state in particular.”
Senate President, David Mark, described the late politician as “a defender of human rights and democracy”, stressing that he distinguished himself as a parliamentarian and Speaker , House of Representatives in the Second Republic. Mark also added, “he upheld the tenets of democracy. He hated oppression and was outspoken against injustice.”
However, down in his native town as dictated by the Amichi custom, the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Ofobike Ezeoke, along with the President General of the Amichi Development Union (ADU), Emma Okafor is expected to announce to the Amichi people the sad news of the demise of their illustrious son who was said to have been on life support machine for about a week before he eventually joined his ancestors.
As the Amichi people await the official announcement of the politician’s death, shops have been reportedly closed even as traders were said to have gathered in groups to discuss in low tones his passage.
Sunday Trust learnt that the late politician was a high chief in the community; he had the chieftaincy title of Ifejikamba. “The whole town has been thrown into mourning, as a result of his death. Amechi is in a mourning mood,” said Igwe Ezeoke.
“Ndigbo will mourn him because his death is a heavy blow and loss to the entire country,” said the President General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural body, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Ralph Uwechue, who also added, “It is a necessary end that will come when it will come. We are only praying to God to grant his soul a place in the bossom of the Lord, which he rightly deserved.”