Former Vice President of Nigeria, Dr Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, is dead. His death was announced via statement from his family and signed by his brother and the traditional ruler of Oko in Anambra State, Igwe Laz Ekwueme.  He said the former VP died by 10:00pm in a London clinic, Sunday. He was 85.

The short statement read: “Ekwueme family regrets to announce the peaceful passing away of their patriarch, the former Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Dr Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, GCON.

“The sad event occurred at the London Clinic at 10:00 pm on Sunday 19th November 2017.”

His death has thrown his community, Oko, in Anambra State into mourning since Sunday night when the news frittered into town.

Gentleman politician Ekwueme had slumped in his Enugu residence, and immediately taken to the Memfys Neurosurgery Hospital Enugu, where he relapsed and went into coma before the Federal Government flew him out of the country to London in an air ambulance.

A thoroughbred architect and intellectual power house, he was one of the forerunners to the birthing of the 4^th Republic democracy. As a member of the G-35, he was among the foundation members of the Peoples Democratic Party. The nation would miss his stabilizing effect and cerebral contributions to national debates and development.