BY Austin Ogwuda, Emman Ovuakporie & Henry Umoru
Abuja – President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Senate President, David Mark, and Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Aminu Tambuwal were among those that condoled the family of late Justice Victor Ovie-Whiskey, who died on Wednesday.
Recalling late Justice Ovie-Whiskey's enormous contributions to the nation as a judge and Chairman of Federal Electoral Commission, FEDECO, President Jonathan urged his family to take solace in the knowledge that the late judge lived a very fulfilled life and left a worthy legacy of commendable service to the nation.
The President argued that the record of Justice Ovie-Whiskey's upright and conscientious management of Nigeria's electoral process in very challenging times will stand to his eternal credit in the nation's history.
Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has expressed sadness at Justice Ovie-Whiskey's demise, describing him as a great patriot, who maintained his integrity till death.
Also, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Senate President, David Mark, and Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Aminu Tambuwal, yesterday, described the death of Justice Ovie-Whiskey as another major loss to Nigeria's legal profession.
Atiku in a condolence message by his Media Office in Abuja, noted that one of the greatest qualities of late Whiskey was his insistence on accuracy on the part of those who made allegations.
He said: Whiskey's insistence that accusers should be sure of their facts first was a challenge to our society where people easily go public with wild allegations without having what it takes to substantiate.
Senator Mark, who noted that Ovie-Whiskey would be missed by the nation, said that he departed at a time his wealth of experiences would have been needed to shape and pilot the affairs of the nation.
Uduaghan in in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sunny Ogefere, said: "Pa Ovie-Whiskey was an upright and non-partisan man, whose diligence and dedication to duty as a judicial officer saw him emerge as Chief Judge of defunct Bendel State.
"We have lost a patriot, an elder statesman, a quintessential professional and above all, a pride of Delta State whose exit would be felt."
Tambuwal, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, said the deceased served the country diligently as the Chief Justice of the former Bendel State and later as its electoral umpire.
Tambuwal said: "He was an icon of the legal profession who served Nigeria selflessly as its Chief Electoral Umpire. I remember him for his calm disposition and mature contributions which helped Nigeria's electoral process between 1980 and 1983 when the military took over power.
"His death is therefore a great loss not only to his immediate family but to Nigeria as a nation. By his death, our country has once again lost an elder statesman."
Vanguard Nigeria