The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, has described the late former Minister of transport, Mr Ojo Maduekwe, as a man full of life and innovation.
Amaechi said this when he led a delegation from the Ministry of Transportation to pay a condolence visit to the family of the deceased former minister on Thursday in Abuja.
He stressed that Maduekwe, was a household name in the country and needed no introduction, having held so many key positions and served in various capacities.
He was a former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Canada, National Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Secretary of the party’s Board of Trustees,
Amaechi said that the news of Maduekwe`s death came to him as a shock, because he was full of life.
“He was a man full of life and very innovative; it was that innovation that made him attempt introducing cycling as a transportation means in Nigeria as was the case in other countries.’’
He said that the deceased former minister wanted to use cycling to achieve two things at the same time — which was solving transportation problem and improving individual health.
He urged his fans and immediate family members to accept his death in good faith, adding that death was an inevitable end that no man had control over.
He also prayed God to grant the Maduekwe family the fortitude to bear the loss and to grant his soul eternal rest.
In his remarks, the son of the deceased, Mr Ukiwe Maduekwe, who spoke on behalf of the family, appreciated the ministry for sharing in their sorrows.
“I will like to thank the minister and the entire ministry for gracing us with their presence at our moment of grieve,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the delegation was received by Mrs Uche Maduekwe, the deceased wife, Mrs Nnenna Anigbo, her twin sister and the deceased’s son.
The late former minister is expected to be buried at a date to be announced by his family soon. (NAN)