President Mohammadu Buhari, and other prominent politicians have expressed their heartfelt condolences to the Ogbulafor family in Olokoro, Umuahia South Local Government Area, LGA, of Abia State, over the death of former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, national chairman, Eze Vincent Ogbulafor.
Ogbulafor died on Thursday in Canada at the age of 73 from an undisclosed ailment. He was born on May 24, 1949.
In his condolence message signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity, Garba Shehu, President Buhari commiserated with leaders and members of the PDP, the Olokoro Royal family in Umuahia, and the government and people of Abia State over the loss.
He believed that the late PDP chieftain would be remembered for his role in the nation’s democratic growth.
Former Senate President Saraka, said:
“I am extremely heartbroken to learn about the passing of Chief Vincent Ogbulafor. He was an extraordinary man who served as the first National Secretary and erstwhile National Chairman of PDP.
As we join his family, and well-wishers across the nation to mourn his painful passing, we take solace in the fact that he devoted himself to the service of the nation. He will be dearly missed,” he added.
Also, Former Vice President and PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar had this to say:
“Vincent Ogbulafor was my friend and colleague, from as far back as the early days of our great party, the PDP.
We worked together in diverse capacities for the good of our nation, and particularly towards reforming Nigeria’s economy after several years of military plundering.
He was one to serve diligently, and contributed his quota with no bias. His passing on has indeed robbed our party and country of his immense experience and statesmanship.
I hereby express my deepest condolences to the members of his family, the government and the people of Abia State, and the PDP on the loss of a great man. May the Almighty God forgive his sins, receive his soul and grant comfort to all whom he’s left behind. -AA” he said.
The Man Ogbulafor:
The late Olokoro Prince became PDP national chairman on March 8, 2008. He was the first national secretary of the party and a minister under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.
He resigned from his appointment as the chairman after he was charged with alleged financial recklessness while serving as a minister.
Ogbulafor was reputed to have boasted that the PDP would rule for 60 years which did not come to pass, as the All Progressives Congress, APC, truncated that dream and eventually defeated the party in 2015.
He made the controversial comment in 2008 while he was occupying the party’s top seat.
Explaining why he uttered the statement, the Abia-born politician said it had become apparent because of the good policies and programmes of the party.