- Irukwu passed away at 89 years old.
- Obasanjo described the late Ohaneze leader as “one of the builders of modern Nigeria”.
Olusegun Obasanjo, a former president, expressed sorrow over Professor Joseph Ogbonnaya Irukwu’s passing and said that the former president of the Ohaneze Ndigbo was unable to witness to the fulfilment of a project effort with him called “The Nigerian Dream.”
Recall that WITHIN NIGERIA reported earlier that the late elder statesman died at the weekend at the age of 89.
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, the former President said he was sad, because the people would miss his contribution to the building of the new Nigeria of his dream.
The Balogun Owu, however, submitted that he was “grateful to God for such a life well spent in the service of our fatherland.”
He recalled that, “Since 2018, Joe and I have been engaged in exchanging words, views and thoughts on a laudable project initiative titled, The Nigerian Dream.”
According to Obasanjo, the project was to be put in the public domain for national adoption, “with the hope that it would be another strand of our commonality, unity and togetherness.”
Obasanjo said the deceased had always expressed great hope for Nigeria through the initiative, “but unfortunately, he didn’t wait to see our collective rigorous efforts on the project being brought to fruition.”
He eulogized the former Ohaneze leader, saying he would be remembered for his hard-work, integrity and probity, which he said “contributed to setting the high standards that were the hallmark of those halcyon days that we all yearn to return to our dear nation.”
“I recall during my administration as a democratically-elected President of Nigeria, Joe never rested on his oars in exhibiting uncommon courage and commitment to progressive ideals in his contributions to the political development of our country and national discourse,” Obasanjo said.