Ekweremadu remembers late Yar’adua after 10yrs

Former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, on Tuesday paid glowing tribute to former President, the late Umaru Yar’Adua, describing him as a man of peace and justice.

According to him, it was Yar’Adua who approved the designation of the Akanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu, as an international airport after many decades of denying the South East a direct access to the world.

Ekweremadu also recalled how the Katsina-born former number one citizen created the Ministry of Niger Delta, and restored peace in the region through the amnesty deal with militants.

The former deputy senate president further enumerated some of the achievements of the late leader in a short tribute entitled “Yar’Adua: Remembering a Leader, True Democrat, and Bridge Builder” to mark the 10^th anniversary of his passing on via his Facebook page.

He equally revealed that he had nominated Yar’Adua for the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize for choosing dialogue and suasion instead of force in resolving the Niger Delta challenge, although he did not eventually win the prize.

“We lost a leader in the late President Yar’Adua 10 years ago. When in July 2007 I led a delegation of South East senators to discuss challenges facing the region with him, he was surprised that the South East had no direct access to the world and he graciously broke the jinx by designating the Akanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu an international airport.

“He wrote his name in gold by creating the Ministry of Niger Delta in 2008 and pulled the amnesty deal in 2009 to restore peace, security, economic stability, and promote development in the region.

“I actually nominated him for the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize. He didn’t win, but the world noted that he was a man of peace and justice.

“May God continue to have mercy on his soul and continue to grant his fine, gentle soul a peaceful repose. Amen.

“Continue to rest in peace, Sir” Ekweremadu wrote in a statement issued by his media adviser, Uche Anichukwu.