PROMINENT Nigerians, political parties and groups yesterday paid glowing tributes to professor of Economics and Chairman of the National Economic Intelligence Committee (NEIC), Samuel Adepoju Aluko and renowned Ambassador, Matthew Tawo Mbu.
Incidentally, both Mbu and Aluko died in London hospitals on Monday and yesterday in that order. The duo also passed on at the age of 82.
Among the leaders, who eulogised the two icons yesterday were President Goodluck Jonthan, Senate President David Mark, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, the Cross River State government, Governors Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State,? Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Theodore Orji (Abia), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta),? his predecessor, James Ibori, Afe Babalola, and Ebenezer Babatope
Jonathan in a statement issued by Reuben Abati, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, said he received with ?immense sadness and a feeling of great national loss the news of the passing away earlier today (yesterday) of Nigeria?s veteran economist per excellence, Prof. Samuel Aluko.?
The President on behalf of himself, his family, the Federal Government, and the people of Nigeria, extended ?sincere and heartfelt condolences to Aluko?s family.
He said as they mourn Aluko, Jonathan urged his family, friends, associates and admirers to be comforted by the fact that the renowned economist lived a life full of many indelible achievements and notable contributions to national development.
?Nigeria will definitely remember the late Prof. Aluko as a man who gave the nation his best years and put her on the global map with his giant strides in the academia and in governance when he served as a leading adviser to various governments at state and federal levels,? the President said.
He prays that God Almighty will comfort Prof. Aluko?s family and grant his soul eternal rest.
Family sources at Aluko?s Ijapo Estate, Akure home said the eminent Nigerian died at about 5 a.m. yesterday at a hospital where he had gone for medical check-up since January.
Aluko was said to have complained only of ?a slight fatigue? before the trip that he undertook with Joyce, his wife of 56 years and ?had even regained his strength and was even cracking jokes on Monday night, a few hours before his condition suddenly relapsed.?
A condolence register has been opened at the Akure home and about five relations said the public would have to wait for an official announcement from his first son, Prof. Bolaji Aluko, who is the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State.
Born on August 17, 1929, the eminent scholar and social critic, was the first Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? .
He was a lecturer of Economics at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and by his own accounts, played a prominent role during the Nigerian civil war as an unofficial link between political leaders of the Western and Eastern regions.
A native of the sleepy agrarian town of Ode-Ekiti in Ekiti State, Aluko attended St. Mary?s Primary School in his native community between 1936 and 1940 and Christ School, Ado-Ekiti for his secondary education.
As a teacher and later a principal of various secondary schools, particularly in then Mid-Western region before the area was carved out of the Western Region, Aluko engaged himself in private studies and came out with a Second Class Honours in Economics from the University of London.
Survived by his wife and six children, including Bolaji and Gbenga, Aluko was a senator between 1999 and 2003.
Other Nigerians, who paid tribute Professor of Public Administration and Local Government, Alex Gboyega, Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan, described Aluko?s death as a sad loss to the country particularly at this time. He described the late Professor as a very radical economist who did things and formulated policies that favoured the masses.
He specifically noted that Aluko would be fondly remembered for the role he played in the formulation of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo?s policies.
He added that although, he controversially served under the late Gen. Sani Abacha?s regime in which many thought he had abandoned the masses, the country would have been worse if he had not been a part of that government.
He, therefore, described him, citing his historical precedence as one economist who was always looking for how to improve the lot of the common man.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? .
Orji described the death of Mbu as an incident that had created a big vacuum in the country?s political firmament, asserting that Nigerians would not forget the role he played in projecting the image of the country as the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The governor through Ugo Emezue, his Chief Press Secretary, said Mbu?s death marked the end of an era but noted that he lived a fulfilled life, and prayed God to grant his soul eternal rest in His bosom.
Similarly, Uduaghan described the death of the elder statesman and former Nigerian envoy to the United Kingdom (UK), as a ?monumental loss? difficult to replace.
While noting that the nation would miss his ?wealth of wisdom, penchant for peaceful dialogue and undying love for the country,?
the governor in a statement in Lagos by Felix Ofou, his Press Secretary, observed that the late nationalist?s exit came at a time his fatherly roles were needed by Nigerians.
He expressed condolence with the people and government of Cross River State, who in addition to the deceased family, are directly affected by the death.? ? ? ? ? ? ? .
On her part, professor of Literature, Theodora Akachi-Ezeigbo of the Department of English, University of Lagos, expressed shock at the news and described Aluko as an academic, whose contributions to the society cannot be ignored.
Prof. Tunde Babawale screamed for a moment when he was told of the death of the late economist. ? ? ? ? ? .
A few minutes after he recovered from the shock, he described the death as a ?great loss to the country as a whole.?
David Alaribe, immediate past president of Lagos Mainland District Society of Institute of Chatered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) said Aluko was a great economist, who chaired the National Economic Intelligence Committee during the transition government of Abdusalam government. According to him, Aluko helped to stabilise the naira during this time and made sure the foreign exchange rate was low.
He was the Secretary-General of the Ekiti Peoples Party during the First Republic and he was elected as the Chairman of the Ado District Council.
Described as a ?Professor of Professors, many economists of note, passed through him in his days in the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University.
He was also known to have served as Economic Adviser to the late head of state, Gen. Sani Abacha. The others, he advised, included the late Governor of Ondo State, Chief Adekunle Ajasin and former head of state, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.
The idea to put the excess funds from the increase in the pump price of petrol during the Abacha years and the subsequent formation of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) was proposed by the foremost economist. So also was the idea of the Value Added Tax (VAT).
An unrepentant critic of free market trade policy, Aluko had expressed concern over the state of the nation?s economy, based on the prevailing economic policy.
He said:? Our economy is in bad shape and this is because we have corrupt leadership. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) reform agenda has worsened our economy. The Federal Government policy on free market, exchange rate, private sector-led economy and free trade have killed our economy. Nigeria?s economy is in shambles. The CBN has added more to the injuries.
Source: http://www.newsnet.com.ng/2012/02/for-mbu-aluko-a-torrent-of-tributes/
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