The one thing Alex Ekwueme taught us

If there’s one thing Dr. Alex Ekwueme gifted Nigerian politics, it is that you can still play the game without coming across as dirty and unrefined.

Nigeria’s first elected Vice President was the genially sophisticated politician, properly groomed, soft spoken, idealistic and eternally calm.

As he advanced in age, his greying hair conferred him with something resembling an angelic mien.

They don’t make them quite like Ekwueme anymore.

Until his death, he remained a one political party man in the fourth republic. He stayed loyal to the PDP—a political party he helped form from the crucible--warts and all.

Even defeats at the PDP primaries of 1999 and 2003 weren’t enough to dampen Ekwueme’s love for democracy, for his political party.

For Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme was a democrat, through and through.

Sanctity of the ballot was a cardinal principle for which he lived.

His life was service and service was his life.

"I will like to be remembered as someone who came into public office to render service and rendered that service selflessly," he once said in that soft cadence only he can pull off.

“His life was marked by an unwavering commitment to the unity and progress of Nigeria; and his personal sacrifices helped lay the foundation for our democracy.

“He served Nigeria and humanity. We will miss his counsel and wisdom on national issues”, said President Buhari who sacked Ekwueme and Shagari from Dodan Barracks in 1983.

President of the Ohaneze Ndigbo, John Nwodo says “Dr Ekwueme was intellectually forthright, engaging, loyal and outstandingly patriotic. As a politician, he was courageous and original in his ideas. Ndigbo have lost a genius, a father and an intellectual giant."

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Encomiums are never in excess if Ekwueme is the subject.

Gone at 85, it has to be said that the man left quite an impression and giant sized shoes to be filled.

And if there’s one thing he taught us, it is that politics doesn’t have to be played with bitterness and that democracy must remain front and center as we mend our fractured nation.

Sorry, make that two things.