From Magnus Eze, Enugu and Aloysius Attah, Onitsha, Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Godwin Tsa, Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja and Chukwudi Nweje
President Bola Tinubu, Ohaneze Ndigbo and others have condoled with the Nwabueze family and the government and people of Anambra State, on the passing of renowned constitutional lawyer and former minister of education, Professor Ben Nwabueze.
The elder statesman who was President of Igbo Leaders of Thought (ILT), died in Lagos on Sunday. Aged 94, Nwabueze hailed from Atani in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.
His son, Eni confirmed his demise in a terse statement released yesterday afternoon.
He said: “With great sadness, we announce the passing on to celestial glory of our patriarch, Professor B. O. Nwabueze SAN, NNOM, CON, pioneer Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the Oduah Afo-na-isagba of Atani, Anambra State, on Sunday October 29, 2023 aged 94. He lived an exemplary life of consequence. Burial arrangements will be announced in due course.”
Prof. Nwabueze is also the first academic lawyer to be made a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 1978 strictly on the basis of his published works.
He was a member of the Senate of the Universities of Lagos, Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, Haile Selassie in Ethiopia, Lesotho, Botswana and Swaziland between 1971 – 1978.
He was appointed the University Assessor for Academic Appointments, Universities of Ghana, Lagos, Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), and Jos between 1978 – 1979.
Prof. Nwabueze is the proud author of over 30 books and treatises with an average extent of 400 pages.
He has written over 200 articles in academic journals and given more than 100 keynotes at local and international conferences.
President Tinubu, in a statement issued by his media aide, Ajuri Ngelale, described the death of the foremost constitutional lawyer as a profound loss, saying Nwabueze’s knowledge of law was outstanding.
“Prof. B.O. Nwabueze’s contribution to the precedents and principles of the nation’s constitution is notable. His involvement in the drafting of the 1979 constitution is a legacy that stands him out as well as his outstanding contributions to the legal profession at large.”
He urged his family, the good people of Anambra State, and Nigerians in general to take solace in the worthy legacy that the deceased left behind.
Reacting, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu thanked God that he lived a very eventful life, having served the Igbo and Nigeria, with dignity.
He recalled Nwabueze’s critical role in the making of the new Ohanaeze Ndigbo, noting that he was the apex Igbo body’s Secretary General, when it was the highest position of the group. “We all regret the death of Prof Ben Nwabueze, but however, we give thanks to God. We give thanks to God for his creation, for his preservation, for all the good things that God did to Igbo land and Nigeria through Prof Nwabueze.
“Indeed, Nwabueze was one of the founding fathers of the new Ohanaeze Ndigbo. In fact, the new Ohanaeze Ndigbo had Dr Jerome Udorji as the first Secretary General. At that time, Secretary General was the highest position. Prof. Nwabueze was his deputy. When Jerome Udorji retired and became a traditional ruler, Prof Nwabueze took over as Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and in fact, he did a lot for Ohanaeze. We will miss him, he is very upright, very straightforward, very patriotic and very resourceful man. We are going to miss him but we give thanks for his life and his services. May God receive his soul,” Iwuanyanwu said.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu in a statement said late Nwabueze made remarkable contributions to the legal profession, as well as in the socio-political development of the country.
The deputy speaker, who recalled that Professor Nwabueze played a major role in the drafting of the 1979 constitution, lauded his contributions to the country’s jurisprudence.
He also hailed the contributions of the deceased to the peace and unity in Igboland, especially during his tenure as the Secretary General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide. Kalu added that though, Nwabueze died at that age of 94, he would be missed by all and sundry.
Speaking with Daily Sun on his demise, a cross section of senior lawyers eulogised his virtues and contributions to the development of law and legal jurisprudence in the country.
A former Attorney General of Imo State, Chief Chukwuma-Machukwu (SAN) said “Prof Ben Nwabueze, SAN did not die, he merely passed on.Such minds & personalities as his & he was do not die.
He lived his life for Rule of Law , constitutionalism & the quest for Nigerian electoral sovereignty.
His numerous cerebral books & ideas shall continue to be cornerstone pillars for Nigerian voyage to true federalism.
Prof Ben Nwabueze, SAN defeated that clitche: “Not how long but how well. He lived long & he lived eventfully well.”
Ume added “Prof Ben Nwabueze, SAN was an Idol of sort to me. A big eternal hole is now in my life.
May his great Soul continue to rest in the bosom of the Lord.
On his part, a Fellow of Ben Nwabueze Center for Constitutional Law and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), described him as a leading African Scholar on Democracy, Federalism and constitutionalism.
“Professor Nwabueze proclivity in producing Tomes and Magnus opus on critically important legal questions confirms his status as Africa,s leading scholar on Democracy Federalism and constitutionalism. His critical thinking will be very badly missed , particularly by me and colleagues at the Professer Ben Nwabueze Centre of constitutional law. My deepest condolences to his family.”
In his tribute, one of his student, Chief Oba Maduabuchi (SAN) described the late Nwabueze as “one of the best brains Nigeria has produced legally. He was a lecturer at the Enugu campus and those who pass through Enugu campus as a lawyer either saw, met or heard about him. You can’t pass through Enugu campus as a lawyer and not heard about him.
“His death simply means that there is always an end where you can never continue as mortals. It reminds us that no matter how good you are, you will go back to your creator one day.
“The only blight I see in his trajectory was when he appeared in a wheel chair as counsel to former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, at the tribunal in his (Atiku) petition against former president Muhammadu Buhari. I didn’t like that, otherwise, everything about him is full of honour, integrity and decorum. If you read his books, it is prolific. His death is a terrible loss to Nigeria legal profession, the country and his Atani community. To show how down to earth he was, the late Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe, a Nigerian highlife mestro, from Atani community mentioned him in one of his music. Its a way of all mortals. He is gone and God should give him a perfect rest.”
Also, a former Attorney General of Abia State, Chief Solomon Akuma described him a legal colossus, foremost constitutional lawyer, Legal Author and Academic. “Prof Ben Nwabueze SAN is a Legal Colossus, foremost constitutional lawyer, Legal Author and Academic. The sad news of the death of Eminent Silk is very unsettling. However, we are consoled by the fact he was an accomplished Legal Luminary.While he will be sorely missed physically, his works will forever keep him in our minds.
“May God grant his family and Legal Practitioners the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.
Another senior lawyer, Ahmed Raji, described him as a “legend and a formost scholar has gone home. Generations unborn will meet his works which are very outstading. May God repose his soul and count him among the saints Triumphant. Good night sir.
On his part, Chief Jubril Okutepa (SAN), he described the death of Nwabueze a tragic news.
“What a tragic news. Prof Ben Nwabueze SAN leader of the Inner Bar, foremost Constitutional lawyer, father of fathers and legal iroko of extraordinary brain was the leading light in the legal profession. He was an erudite scholar.
Meanwhile, Igbo Leaders of Thought which Nwabueze headed was yet to react to his demise as an official of the group who wished not to be named told Daily Sun that they would meet and state their position in about 48hours.
But Igbo intelligentsia, Aka Ikenga and the Cultural Credibility Development Initiative (CCDI), have condoled with the family.
President of Aka Ikenga, Chike Madueke, and President CCDI, Ide Goddy Uwazurike, in separate personal tributes described Nwabueze as a good man,
The Aka Ikenga president noted that Ndigbo and Nigeria have lost an intellectual asset.
He said, Nwabueze “was a good man and Ndigbo and Nigeria have lost an intellectual asset. May his soul Rest in Peace.”
On his part, Uwazurike described Nwabueze’s death as a huge loss to the legal profession, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Nigeria.
He stated that Nwabueze is “a great man by all ramifications” and noted that he would be greatly missed.
He wrote: “It is with sadness that Credibility Group has learnt of the death of the great man, Prof Ben Nwabueze SAN. Yes, a great man by all ramifications. He was called the Oracle of Law by the great Rotimi Williams SAN of immortal memory.
“Prof Ben Nwabueze was a consummate law, a professor of law who insisted on doing a written examination for his LLD, a mentor of many, the first academic to be conferred with the Prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, a Secretary General of Ohanaeze, a Minister (Secretary) of Education in Nigeria, a professor of law in a good number of countries.
“It is also worth mentioning that Ohanaeze Ndigbo has lost three eminent chieftains recently. Prof Joe Irukwu SAN, Chief George Uwechuo SAN yesterday, and now Prof Ben Nwabueze SAN. Their memory will last forever.”
Additionally, the Credibility Group in mourning the passage of the legal luminary, described him as “a great man by all ramifications.”
President of the group, Chief Goddy Uwazurike expressed sadness over the incident a statement.
“He was called the Oracle of Law by the great Rotimi Williams SAN of immortal memory. Prof Ben Nwabueze was a consummate lawyer, a professor of law who insisted on doing a written examination for his LLD, a mentor of many, the first academic to be conferred with the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, a Secretary General of Ohanaeze, a Minister (Secretary) of Education in Nigeria, a professor of law in a good number of countries,” he stated.
Uwazurike lamented that Ohanaeze Ndigbo has lost three eminent chieftains recently in the persons of Prof Joe Irukwu, Chief George Uwechuo and now, Prof Ben Nwabueze. He said their memories would last forever.