SAN FRANCISCO, October 14, (THEWILL) – President Goodluck Jonathan Monday said he received with sadness news of the death of renowned political scientist and former Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Professor Omo Omoruyi.
A statement by Reuben Abati, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity said, “President Jonathan commiserates with Prof. Omoruyi’s family and the Government and people of Edo State on the loss of the very distinguished academic and illustrious citizen whose contributions to the nation’s political development will be long remembered.
“President Jonathan believes that Nigerians will always acknowledge and honour the late Professor’s significant contributions towards laying an enduring foundation for the current democratic dispensation in the country through the work of the Centre for Democratic Studies which he served as pioneer Director-General.”
The statement added that President Jonathan “joins Prof. Omoruyi’s family, relatives, friends and associates in praying for the peaceful repose of the eminent intellectual’s soul.”
Omoruyi Was A Patriot, Nationalist Says Uduaghan
Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has described the late Professor as a patriot and nationalist who had a burning passion for the unity and improvement of democracy in Nigeria.
Reacting to the news of the death of the renowned academic, the governor, in a statement by Felix Ofou, his press secretary, said Nigeria will forever remember Professor Omoruyi as an advocate of good governance in the country.
Uduaghan said the academic community, Edo State and Nigeria in General will be affected by the painful exit of a man who at great risk to personal safety and love for the common man would always want to speak the truth at all times.
“Even while he was on the sick bed when he should be thinking only about his health, he never stopped talking he was more concerned about deepening democracy and the distribution of the dividends to the grassroots”, he stated.
The governor therefore urged all lovers of democracy, including the academia to see this moment of his death to honour the late Omoruyi by seeking to actualise the values and ethos for which he lived and was willing to sacrifice his live, particularly in service of the nation.
He moreover prayed God to grant the family of the deceased, the Edo State Government and people, as well as Nigerians in general, the fortitude to bear the loss, especially at a time when Professor Omoruyi’s voice and wisdom were most needed.
Professor Omoruyi died from prostate cancer at a local hospital in Benin City on Sunday.
