Minister mourns late Ojo Madueke, says he was "brutally frank"

dimeji akinloye

July 1, 2016 4:48 AM

Ngige said Nigeria has lost a brilliant technocratic and hardworking politician.

Dr. Chris Ngige

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, said on Thursday, June 30, in Abuja that the death of Chief

A statement signed by Mr Samuel Olowookere, the Deputy Director (Press) in the ministry, quoted Ngige as saying that Nigeria had lost "a brilliant technocratic and hardworking politician who was philosophical in thinking and logical in disposition''.

"Ojo was sophisticated in knowledge and brutally frank, but devoid of intellectual arrogance. Such a genre is often uncommon among the political class; hence, he was often misunderstood.

"But he gave his best to the nation, having served as the Minister of Culture and Tourism and at another time, Minister of Transport, Foreign Affairs and later, the Ambassador to Canada.

"I, therefore, join the family, relations, friends, the political class and the entire nation in mourning this patriot, who made outstanding contributions to nation building and left an indelible mark in the political history of Nigeria.

"I pray the Almighty God to grant him eternal rest and console the family he left behind,’’ Ngige said in the statement.

READ: Ogbulafor, Adighije mourn Ojo Madueke

Maduekwe also served as minister of foreign affairs and culture and tourism, during the Umaru Yar’AduaandOlusegun Obasanjo administrations, respectively.

dimeji akinloye