Former Anambra governor dies at 85
Ike said in spite his political, national and international life, Okwadike was a community leader who served Igbo-Ukwu as a president general and cared about the development of the town till his death.
A former governor of Anambra, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, is dead.
Ezeife was 85 years old.
Chief Nwakaire Ezeife, who announced the passage of the elder statesman on behalf the family, said he died at the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, on Thursday.
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.
“He was a former federal permanent secretary, the first executive governor of Anambra, and a staunch politician.
“More details about the deceased and the arrangements for his state burial will be announced later,” he said.
Mr. Christian Ike, the President General of the Igbo-Ukwu Community in the Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra, said the community is in grief over the death of Ezeife.
In spite of his political, national, and international life, Okwadike was a community leader who served Igbo-Ukwu as president general and cared about the development of the town till his death.
“His death is a huge shock to us. Igbo-Ukwu is in mourning because a great man, a father, a community leader, and a nationalist are gone.
“I spoke with him two weeks ago, and he assured me he was getting better. Though he was in the hospital bed, he took time to ask questions about current events in Igbo-Ukwu and prayed for us.
“We are in pain, but we submit totally to the will of the Almighty,” he said.
Supreme News reports that 'Okwadike, as he was fondly called, was born on November 20, 1938.
He served as governor of Anambra from January 1992 to November 1993, during the aborted Third Republic.