Fides Media Living the Faith
By Ikeugonna Eleke
As Anambra State mourns the death of former governor, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju, whose demise was announced by his family on Tuesday, more Nigerians have expressed their regrets, including the country’s president, Muhammadu Buhari, Atiku Abubakar and Ohaneze Ndigbo, who sent their condolence messages to Mbadinuju’s family and the entire people of Anambra State.
Describing Mbadinuju as ‘a seasoned academic, journalist and lawyer whose contributions across the spectre of these noble endeavours inspired and empowered many young people in Anambra State and beyond to believe in the power of their dreams and achieve their potentials, Buhari urged family, friends, colleagues and well-wishers to reflect on the contributions of the former governor in building lives and communities.
Also eulogising the late ex-governor, a statement issued by Atiku Abubakar enjoined Mbadinuju’s Family to take solace in ‘his sterling qualities as a seasoned intellectual of Dr. Alex Ekwueme School of politics’.
Mourning Mbadinuju’s death in a press statement issued on behalf of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Damian Okeke Ogene described the former governor as a good man who played his own role in the socio-economic development of Anambra State.
‘Well, death is a due everybody must pay and you don’t know when. It is sad that Mbadinuju is dead, but I must say that he was a good man and he did a lot for the socio-economic development of Anambra State. We pray God to give him eternal rest and we console his family members to bear the loss with fortitude,’ Ogene said.
It will be recalled that former Governor Mbadinuju’s death was announced in a press statement issued by his son, Cheta Mbadinuju.
Explaining that Odera breathed his last at National Hospital Abuja,on Tuesday, after a brief illness, the statement said he died, aged 78.
It will also be recalled that Mbadinuju was governor of Anambra State between 1999 and 2003 on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Earlier, while describing Mbadinuju’s death as a huge loss, Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State extolled the ex-governor for laying what he described as the basic foundation for security of life and property in Anambra State, through the establishment of Anambra Vigilante Service (AVS).
Prof. Soludo gave the commendation in a statement signed by his press secretary, Christian Aburime.
The statement also credited Mbadinuju’s Administration of 1999 through 2003, with the creation of Anambra State University, Uli, among other legacy projects.
While praying for the eternal repose of the soul of Mbadinuju, Gov. Soludo urged the late academic scholar, journalist, lawyer and former governor’s family and his Uli community to immortalize his good name by ensuring that his legacies were sustained for posterity.