The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday disclosed plans to immortalize its deceased founding fathers including Mallam Adamu Ciroma, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Chief Solomon Lar and others who laid a solid foundation for the growth and survival of the party and democracy.
Ciroma National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus stated this during an interactive session with journalists in Ciroma’s house after paying condolence visit to the family over the death of the former Minister of Finance, who transited on Thursday at the age of 84.
The PDP chairman who lauded Ciroma’s role in the formation of the PDP described him as an honest and disciplined nationalist adding that the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor played a vital role in addressing challenges the party faced in the past.
He said “Among all the other leaders, late former Vice President Alex Ekwueme was a founding father and Adamu Ciroma was one of the pillars of the party behind the formation of what we know today as the largest political party in Africa. Chief Solomon Lar stood for the party from day one and we cannot forget his sacrifice.
“By the grace of God something will be done to immortalize them. We will consult with other leaders but right now we are in a state of mourning. By the time we are through with it, we will come up with something,” he said.
The PDP boss further noted that the selfless legacies left behind by Ciroma would continue to guide the present and future generations, in their quest to contribute their quota to the development of the nation. “He believed in merit and equal rights and justice. He believed that all human beings are equal before God. We must all emulate him. We also ask those serving now and those that are yet to, to emulate him because he was an embodiment of rule of law, justice and human rights for all,” Secondus added. Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jibrin, who also accompanied Secondus on the condolence visit, also extolled the virtues of the late Ciroma, adding that Nigeria has lost a great leader and quintessential elder statesman. On her part, wife of the late politician and former Minister of Women Affairs, Inna Ciroma, thanked the party for the condolence visit to the family. She was flanked by family members, friends and political associates. Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jibrin, who also accompanied Secondus on the condolence visit, also lauded the contribution of the late Ciroma to the growth of democracy in Nigeria, adding that the nation has lost a great leader and quintessential elder statesman. Besides members of the NWC who accompanied Secondus to Ciroma’s residence, other PDP chieftains at the residence included former governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shema, former acting national chairman of the party, Haliru Bello Mohammed, ex-Senate President, Adolphus Wabara amongst others. The national leadership of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), led by former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana and the national secretary of the party, Shehu Gabam, was also in the home of the Ciromas to commiserate with them.
