Second Republic vice president, Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, has passed on, his family has announced.
Ekwueme, aged 85, was flown abroad in an air ambulance only last week passed on around 10:00 pmon Sunday, in a London hospital.
His death was disclosed in a statement issued by the Ekwueme family of Oko, in Anambra State. The statement was signed by the former vice president’s brother, and the traditional ruler of Oko in Anambra State, Igwe Laz Ekwueme,
The statement which was released in the early hours of Monday reads, “Ekwueme family regrets to announce the peaceful passing away of their patriarch, the former Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, GCON.
“The sad event occurred at the London Clinic at 10:00 pm on Sunday, 19th November, 2017.”
Ekwueme was hospitalised in Memfys Neurosurgery Hospital, Enugu, for about two weeks after he collapsed in his Enugu home on October 28.
The elder statesman was rushed to the hospital after collapsing at his residence in the Independence Layout area of Enugu
It was learnt that the elder statesman was in a coma at the time he was admitted to the hospital.
Ekwueme, who celebrated his 85th birthday on October 10, reportedly suffered from a chest infection, according to his family members.
His life
Ekwueme who was Vice President to President Shehu Shagari was ousted in a coup staged by military officers led by Brigadier Muhammadu Buhari on 31 December 1983.
He attended the University of London; King’s College; Lagos, Nigerian Law School; University of Strathclyde and University of Washington.
Former Vice President Alex Ekwueme
He is the Ide of the Oko kingdom in Anambra State, where his younger brother, Lazarus, is the traditional ruler.
He was also honoured by the council of Traditional Rulers in the old Aguata as the Ide of Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State comprising forty-four (44) towns.
Ekwueme is a distinguished architect who started his professional career as an Assistant Architect with a Seattle-based firm, Leo A. Daly and Associates, and also with the London-based firm Nickson and Partners.
He worked briefly with ESSO West Africa, Lagos, overseeing the Construction and Maintenance department.
He founded Ekwueme Associates, Architects and Town Planners, the first indigenous architectural firm in Nigeria.
