President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has described the death of First Republic Senator and Minister of Health, Dr. Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi, as a great loss to the nation.
The President said that Majekodunmi’s wisdom, immense patriotism, dedication to work, commitment to national service and excellence will undoubtedly be sorely missed by his family, friends, associates and the whole country.
Jonathan noted that late Majekodunmi distinguished himself not only during his brief sojourn as a federal minister and Administrator of the old Western Region, but also as one of the pioneers of high quality private health care services in Nigeria.
The President paid tribute to Majekodunmi’s uncommon courage and willingness to answer the call to national service even at a period of political uncertainty.
He extended sincere condolences to members of the Majekodunmi family and urged them to take solace in the fact that the eminent physician lived to a grand old age and has bequeathed worthy legacies to his offspring and the nation.
Jonathan prayed that Almighty God will grant the soul of the elder statesman peaceful rest.
A former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu, has extended his heartfelt commiseration to the Majekodunmi family and that of the Deputy Governor of the old Ondo State in the Second Republic, Chief Akin Omoboriowo.
While Omoboriowo died on Tuesday, Majekodunmi died on Wednesday.
Kalu, in a statement by his Special Assistant (Media), Emeka Obasi, said both men made their marks on the political scene in Nigeria, leaving legacies Nigerians would be proud of behind.
Kalu was quoted by Obasi as saying: “But for the bold steps taken by Dr. Majekodunmi, a seasoned medical doctor, in the trying days of the Western Region to accept to serve as the Administrator of the region, perhaps there may be no Nigeria today because of the volatile nature of the region then.
“He stood by what he believed to be right and was justified at the end of the day.”
He also praised him for making his mark in the medical field.
On Omoboriowo, Kalu said: “Chief Omoboriowo showed very clearly that in politics, you can disagree but the most important thing at the end of the day is the love of the people that they are to serve.
“The fact that Chief Omoboriowo disagreed with the then leadership of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria did not result in his bringing the party down.
“Rather, he went out quietly to test his popularity in another party in his bid to continue to serve his people.
“And when that also did not work out as a result of the intervention of the military in governance, Chief Omoboriowo worked, until his death, for the betterment of the lot of his people, including being the pro-chancellor of his state’s university, without animosity.”
Kalu commiserated with the families of Omoboriowo and Majekodunmi, praying God to grant their souls eternal repose.