The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has described the demise of its first Secretary General, Prof. Ben Nwabueze as “devastating” saying that he was a “quintessential Igbo titan and patriot”.
The former Secretary (Minister) of Education passed on Sunday evening in his home in Enugu at the age of 92.
The Publicity Secretary of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Dr Alex Ogbonnia stated this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Monday.
The group described Nwabueze as one of the “foremost quintessential Igbo Titans, an erudite scholar, constitutional lawyer, educationist, former minister of the federal Republic of Nigeria, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
According to Ogbonnia, the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, could not withhold his sorrow especially when the Igbo had lost in a close sequence, the former leaders of Ohanaeze; namely Prof. George Obiozor, Prof. Joe Irukwu and now Nwabueze.
He said Iwuanyanwu reminisced the indefatigable roles Nwabueze played as a patriot in the service of the country and the numerous books and articles by him on the constitutionalism which stood him out as an intellectual genius.
“Beyond the services to Nigeria, the Nwabueze scholarship found a profound expression in re-engineering the Igbo into one socio-cultural umbrella body-the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
The Igbo leader noted that Nwabueze was endowed with a magnetic mien, upright transparent disposition, disarming scholarship and an amazing public relation.
Others are his sterling qualities that helped to galvanize eminent Igbos to lend their support in nurturing Ohanaeze Ndigbo to attain an enviable global status.
“Prof. Nwabueze worked tirelessly under Chief Jerome Udoji, the first Secretary General of Ohaneze Ndigbo and Dr Akanu Ibiam as the first President General.
“In fact, the trio of Ibiam, Udoji and Nwabueze reorganised the Igbo when they needed it most. The erudite jurist also served under the tenure of Justice Eze Ozobu before he yielded to Col. Joe Achuzia as the Secretary General.
“Throughout his invaluable services he displayed an amazing intellect, courage, ingenuity, tenacity, hard work and patriotism; a man who spoke truth to power with lucid erudition and inspiring conviction,” Ogbonnia said.
He added that “His roles in Ohanaeze, depicts him as an exemplary scholar who has not allowed his exploits in the academia to alienate him from his cultural roots”.
The publicity secretary also described Nwabueze as a rare gem with accomplishments in diverse fields; an erudite scholar with about thirty books, numerous scholarly articles and other publications to his credit.
“He has made history as the first Nigerian professor to be appointed a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). He will remain a veritable source of inspiration to the generations yet unborn,”.
Nwabeze started his education at the CMS Central School Atani, from 1938 – 1945; C.M.S Central School, Onitsha, 1947 – 1950; London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London, 1956 – 1961; School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, 1961 – 1962.
The legal luminary was a Senior Lecturer at Holborn College of Law, London; Senior Lecturer, University of Nigeria Nsukka; Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Zambia and Director, Law practice Institute, Zambia, 1973 – 1975.
Nwabueze was a Member of the Senate of the Universities of Lagos, Dar-es-salaam, Nairobi, Haile Selassie in Ethiopia, Lesotho, Botswana and Swaziland between 1971 and 1978; Minister of Education in Nigeria among several others.
He earned his Doctor of Laws (LL.D) of the University of London in 1978, based on his three outstanding books – Constitutionalism, Presidentialism, and Judicialism.
“While we prepare for a befitting burial, may the soul of Professor Ben Nwabueze find an eternal repose in the bosom of our Lord. Ogbonnia prayed. (NAN)