The Abia State Government Thursday declared Friday, July 1 and Monday, July 4 as work-free days in honour of late former Minister of Transport, Chief Ojo Maduekwe.

The Commissioner for Information, Comrade Bonnie Iwuoha and Secretary to Abia State Government (SSG), Dr Eme Okoro, announced this at a joint Press Conference Thursday afternoon in Umuahia.

They said that the former minister deserved to be honoured because of the services he rendered to the state and the nation.

“The loss of Ojo hit many of us below the belt,” the SSG said, adding that “this kind of mourning that has cast depressing shadows on us. He was a person you could not avoid.”

Giving an insight into Maduekwe’s last moments, Okoro said they were in Abuja to prepare for Maduekwe’s wife’s birthday this weekend and they received information that the late minister had breathing difficulties during his flight back to Abuja.

He said that an ambulance was stationed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, as soon as the pilot alerted them of Maduekwe’s condition, adding that Maduekwe was taken straight to hospital from the airport but the medical personnel could not revive him.

He said that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has requested Abians to pray for the family he left behind.

•Photo shows late Chief Ojo Maduekwe.