Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Immediate-past Deputy Governor of Abia State, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu; the Abia State Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Professor Greg Ibe; and the former Director General of the National Directorate of Employment, NDE, Chief Chuku Wachuku, have registered their condolences over the death of the former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Professor Joe Irukwu.
The trio, in their respective condolence messages, described Irukwu’s exit as “a huge loss to Ndigbo.”
Oko Chukwu in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Obasi Onwuka, said he “received with immense shock and painful devastation, the sad and heart-rending news of the passing on of the erudite Professor, Lawyer, Insurance guru and erstwhile President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Professor Joe Irukwu.”
He said that “Abia State, South-East and Nigeria have lost an illustrious son and personality.”
The former Deputy Governor urged Abians and Nigerians to take solace in the fact that the elder statesman “acquitted himself creditably while alive and will be remembered for his solid contributions to the growth and development of Abia State in particular and Nigeria in general.”
Describing the late Professor Irukwu as one of the grand masters of the Nigeria Insurance Industry, Sir Oko Chukwu recalled with nostalgia his outstanding contributions as the pioneer Managing Director of Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation and founder of African Development Insurance Company.
He prayed God to grant the soul of Professor Irukwu eternal rest and give the family, the people of Item Okpi and Ndigbo the fortitude to bear the exit of the octogenarian.
Meanwhile, the Abia State Governorship candidate of APGA, Professor Greg Ibe also mourns the loss of Professor Irukwu.
In a statement by his Media Aide, Rev. Sleek Ogwo, Ibe described the death of the renowned intellectual giant who once served as President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide as “a great loss to Item Okpi Kingdom, Abia state and the Ohanaeze Ndigbo family.”
The statement made available to Ikengaonline read: “Having been informed of the death of the passage of our father and leader, Prof Joe Irukwu, I sincerely wish to commiserate with the immediate family, Item Okpi Kingdom, Abia State Government and Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, who must be devastated by the loss of this great rare intellectual giant.”
Recalling the contributions of Prof Irukwu during and after his tenure as President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof Ibe extolled the sterling qualities of the deceased who in his words “bequeathed lasting legacies to the apex socio-cultural organisation.”
“I recall with nostalgia the colourful years of Prof Irukwu’s reign as President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo between 2003 and 2007, a tenure that bequeathed many lasting legacies to the apex socio-cultural organisation and which among many other inspirations was instrumental to the establishment of Igbo Uturu Cultural Carnival and World Igbo Summit.”
Asserting that he benefited immensely from a privileged close relationship he enjoyed with the legal and academic colossus, Prof Ibe enjoined the Abia state government to preserve the memories and legacies of the late illustrious insurance bigwig by naming a befitting structure after him.
Similarly, Chief Wachuku described the late Irukwu as “a great Nigerian and statesman of high repute.”
The ex-NDE boss in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Martins Jaja, said: “I recall the cordial working relationship we enjoyed together in both old Imo State, in the Imo State Economic and Consultative Committee and in Abia State, both in ABSU Consult Ltd and Abia Elders Council.
“He was a great Nigerian and towering statesman of high repute. My family and I will miss him,” Chief Wachuku mourned.
Wachuku who was the Young Peoples Party, YPP, senatorial candidate for Abia Central, condoled the bereaved family and the entire people of Amokwe Item, urging them to bear the loss of their illustrious son and leader with fortitude
