The cold hands of death have struck at the eastern side of the Niger, and in Onitsha specifically.
Both Chukwuma Azikiwe first son of the legendary first President of Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, and Dr. Chinyere Asika, wife to the former administratator of defunct East Central State have died.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed grief over the death of Mrs Asika, who was and Senior Special Assistant to former President Olusegun Obasanjo on New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD).
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, in a statement Monday, eulogised Asika, who was also the elder sister to PDP National Woman Leader, Dr. Kema Chikwe as “a true Nigerian who dedicated her life for the development of the nation.”
The PDP said the nation “will remain proud of Dr. Asika’s commitment to national development including her stewardship in NEPAD, her roles as the Chairman of the National Working Group of Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) as well as her contributions to numerous women empowerment programmes in the country.”
The party lamented that Asika, who was recently appointed as ECOWAS representative in the Panel of Eminent Persons, Africa Peer Review Mechanism, died at the time the nation and the sub-region needed her wealth of experience the most.”
The party commiserated with the family of the Asikas, especially the PDP National Woman Leader as well as the son of the deceased, Obi Asika, Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Social Media.
Chukwuma Bamidele Azikiwe, on his part, died on Sunday.
A family source who pleaded not to be named said he passed on at Bromeo Hospital on Sunday at the age of 75, exactly 19 years after his father’s death.
It was gathered that he had been battling protracted respiratory related ailment for some years now.
Chukwuma until his death was the Owelle of Onitsha, a traditional position he inherited from his father in 1996.
Chukwuma had once contested unsuccessfully the governorship seat of the old Anambra State at the end of his diplomatic career.
Details about his funeral arrangements would be announced later according to Onitsha customs and tradition.
As Owelle, he was sixth in traditional title ranking in Onitsha.
