Chief Chekwas Okorie, the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), has described the passing of Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, a former Minister of Aviation, as a huge loss.
“I received the news of the death of Chief Mbazulike Amaechi with deep sadness. Although he enjoyed the special grace of God to live up to the ripe old age of 93 years, by his passing, he left such a huge void that will be difficult to fill for a long time,” Okorie said in a statement sent to Elendu Reports on Tuesday.
“Like wine, his invaluable contributions and interventions in public discourse became better as he aged. He was courageous, bold and forthright at all times.”
Mbazulike Amechi was the first aviation minister and a strong member of the Zikist movement.
Chief Okorie recalled how it was only the late Aviation Minister and he were the only two living founding members of the IGBO FORUM, formed in 1976 and later transformed into Ohanaeze Ndigbo in 1979.
“A couple of days ago, I was narrating to a few young men who came on a routine interaction with me the story of the glorious days of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. I recalled how and why Ohanaeze was formed, originally known as IGBO FORUM in 1976 when it was formed until 1979, when it was renamed Ohanaeze Ndigbo. I was then the youngest member of the organization, which was then an elite group,” he said.
“I handled most of the errands of the organization. I was then a young undergraduate at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus. I informed them that the 1976 class of what later became Ohanaeze had only Chief Mbazulike Amaechi and my humble self alive.
Chief Okorie rued the death of the sage and noted that he would be greatly missed for his wise counsel to Ndigbo and every Nigerian government.
“The boy is good “, as he was popularly known in his hay days when he became a cabinet minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at the youthful age of 24 years old will be greatly missed, especially his wise counsel to Ndigbo and every Nigerian government. May his noble and valiant soul rest in peace.”
