Elechi Amadi, Ojo Maduekwe pass on

Two eminent Nigerians, Dr. Elechi Amadi and Chief Ojo Maduekwe, passed on yesterday.

Amadi, a literary icon, novelist and playwright, , best known for his work, The Concubine, died in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He was aged 82.

Maduekwe, a former Minister of Transport and Secretary to the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),
reportedly died yesterday evening at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on his return from a trip to the United States. He was 71.

A source close to the family told The Guardian that the Rivers State Government had concluded arrangements to fly Amadi overseas for treatment, but that his health deteriorated between Monday and yesterday when he passed on in a private clinic in the New Government Reservation Area of Port Harcourt.

The renowned author who was born in Aluu community in Ikwerre Local Council May 12, 1933 attended Government College, Umuahia, and like other major Nigerian writers, the University College of Ibadan where he obtained a degree in Physics and Mathematics.

At the University of Ibadan, he contributed to setting up the legendary English department and the student magazine The Horn, which encouraged a number of aspiring writers, including Wole Soyinka, Christopher Okigbo, John Pepper Clark among others.

He served in the Nigerian army between 1963-66, as a captain, and rejoined the military in 1968 and served with Marine Commandos during the civil war.

His other works included Sunset in Biafra,

The Concubine (1966), The Great Ponds (1969), and The Slave (1978), Isiburu (1973), Pepper Soup and the Road to Ibadan.

Sources at the Abuja Airport were quoted as saying that Maduekwe collapsed on arrival and was rushed to the Turkish Hospital, Abuja where he was confirmed dead.

His family was yet to make an announcement at press time. The Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Canada and PDP chieftain was said to have returned to Nigeria for his wife’s 70th birthday ceremony scheduled to hold in Abuja on Friday.