The Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on Sunday, expressed sadness on the sudden death of Professor Uchenna Eleazar Ikonne.
Until his death, Ikonne was the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate in Abia State for the March 11, 2022, governorship election and former Vice Chancellor of Abia State University, Uturu, (ABSU).
Ikonne’s demise was confirmed by his son, Chikezie, in a statement he issued on behalf of the family.
The statement read, “I regret to announce the death of my dear father, Prof Eleazar Uchenna Ikonne, who died at the National Hospital Abuja today, 25th January, 2023 by 4am after a brief illness.
“He was recovering after taking proper treatment in the United Kingdom but relapsed a few days ago leading to multiple cardiac arrests for which he didn’t recover from”.
Reacting, Atiku Abubakar, who was also a former Vice President of Nigeria, while mourning the deceased in a condolence message issued on Sunday, described late Ikonne as an erudite scholar of repute with vast experience in administration whose contributions to advancing knowledge within the academic community will be appreciated by generation unborn.
The presidential candidate recalled his last encounter with the deceased politician, vividly when he led a delegation of Abia PDP stakeholders to his Abuja residence, stated that late Prof Uche Ikonne was at his intellectual best in the course of the robust discussion that he had with his delegation.
“We shall miss his ever-smiling face, wit and sense of humour, which always stood him out,”he added.
Atiku however expressed his deepest condolences to the immediate family of late Prof Uche Ikonne, all members of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abia state, and the Government and people of Abia state, who were working on voting him into power next month.
He prayed to almighty God to grant the soul of the late Governorship candidate of the PDP in the state, Professor Uchenna Eleazar Ikonne eternal rest and the family the fortitude to bear the loss.
Source: Thepressradio.com|Nigeria|Emeruwa Chinedu
