Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has described Chief Onyema Ugochukwu as a passionate and patriotic Nigerian, who did his best to reconcile Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and himself.

It will be recalled that Obasanjo and Atiku were feuding president and vice for the better part of their administration (1999 – 2007).

Atiku said Ugochukwu did not take side, rather he tried to be a peacemaker.

Atiku said this in Abuja during a thanksgiving service at the Methodist Church Nigeria, Cathedral of Unity, Wuse, Zone 3 for the 80th birthday of journalist and former Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu.

Speaking earlier, Obasanjo said he is not a member of any political party. He described himself as “a no-party statesman”.

The former President hailed the celebrant for being a loyal and supportive person during his 1999 election campaigns despite the fact that Chief Alex Ekwueme also contested for the same position in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Obasanjo urged Ugochukwu to remain with the Lord and be committed to humanity throughout the rest of his life.

Speaking, Atiku said: “Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I will not claim that I know Ogochukwu long enough because we only met during our administration around 1998-99.

“And till now, we have been in contact with each other.

“But I want to say that during our administration, even when the President and I were having problems, Ogochukwu never took sides.

“Rather, he tried to be a conciliator and I want to say that all along I found him to be an extremely dedicated, passionate Nigerian.

“Let me also testify that in all those years that we worked together, I never heard of any unwarranted action by Onyema Ogochukwu.

“He was still a credible and perfect gentleman.

“Mrs. Ogochukwu, I think you are very lucky to have him.

“Honestly, I want to say that this is one of the very rare events I have put on a public face to identify myself, but I feel extremely delighted to have been part of this event.

“I also look forward to getting to your age.

“So, once again congratulations Onyema Ogochukwu and family and the entire people of Abia State and Nigeria in general,” Atiku enthused. (Vanguard)