Former minister and stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Ojo Maduekwe, is dead.  Also dead is literary icon, Dr. Elechi Amadi who died in Port Harcourt after a protracted illness. He was said to have battled with multiple organ failure.

Chief Maduekwe, 71,  would be remembered for many things among which was his citizen diplomacy pursuit when he was Foreign Affairs minister under the late President Umaru Yar’Adua. He was also the proponent of the use of bicycles by Nigerians as panacea for the rising cost of fuel and cost of living. He was then serving as Minister of Transport under President Olusegun Obasanjo. Well-heeled in political oratory and sophism, Madueke was born May 6, 1945 in Abia State, Nigeria.

He was also appointed Culture and Tourism minister by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999, Minister of Transport in 2001. He was National Secretary of the ruling political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Scientist-turned writer, Dr. Elechi Amadi, best known for his work, The Concubine, died at the age of 82.

He was born in Aluu community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State on 12 May 1933 to Daniel Wonuchuku and Enwere (Weke) Amadi. He married Dorah Nwonne Ohale (a midwife),  in 1957 and they had children.

He studied at the Government College in Umuahia,  and later University College of Ibadan where he obtained a degree in physics and mathematics.