Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed sadness over the death of two elder statesmen, Justice Muhammed Uwais and Prof Jubril Aminu.
Obasanjo, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi on Sunday, described the late elder statesmen as two patriots who distinguished themselves in their respective fields and served the country creditably.
Justice Uwais died at age 88 on Friday, while Jubril Aminu died on Thursday, at the age of 85.
In separate condolence letters to the heads of Uwais and Aminu families, respectively, Obasanjo said the death of the eminent jurist Justice Uwais “marks the end of a glorious life spent largely in the judicial service of his fatherland, characterised by great learning, industry, and dedicated service.
“Nigeria will certainly miss his exemplary leadership and commitment to the rule of law. It is our hope that the legacy he left behind will continue to be the guiding principles of the Judiciary so that together we can move Nigeria forward.”
Late Justice Uwais was the Chief Justice of Nigeria from May 29, 1999 till when he retired from service on June 12, 2006.
Obasanjo noted that under Uwais’ leadership, the Judiciary was able to restore public confidence in the judicial process through the enthronement of the rule of law.
The former president said, “In fact, the Constitution we had to work with was written and finalised by the judiciary with Justice Uwais having a critical role to play. And for the period we worked together, he epitomised the qualities of an eminent Jurist and Elder Statesman.
“His contributions to the development and dispensation of justice in the nation were no less impressive. As the Chief Justice of Nigeria, he served his nation and his faith with diligence, honesty and professional integrity – qualities which he also demonstrated in copious measure when he presided as Chairman of the Coalition of African Jurists and Electoral Reform Committee under President Umaru Musa YarAdua”.
Obasanjo, in a similar condolence letter to the late Prof Aminu family, remarked that he was one of the nation’s most outstanding elder statesmen, “who had brought his unique knowledge and experience into the national progress, growth and development.
“Professor Aminu had no doubt come a long way in his multi-faceted career as a scholar, medical cardiologist, policy analyst, administrator and as a diplomat.
“In the country’s history, Prof. Aminu held several positions in the academic environment where he distinguished himself as a renowned academic and scholar of no mean repute who made a mark in his field of Medicine. He later became the Federal Minister of Education and subsequently of Petroleum and Mineral Resources under the regime of General Ibrahim Babangida and, by all standards, he did his best.
“It must also be acknowledged that under my administration as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria between 1999-2007, he served creditably well as the Nigerian Ambassador to the United States of America from 1999-2003.
“The good work he did in the country was a fitting complement to my administration’s painstaking efforts to re-make the international profile of our dear country.
“It was therefore not surprising that he was severally called upon to serve the nation, twice as a Senator representing Adamawa Central from 2003-2011. On each occasion, he left lasting footprints in the sands of time and built for himself an impressive profile of immense goodwill and affection among his people.
“We commiserate with you, his family and the entire good people of Adamawa State and pray that God, in His mercy, will comfort you all. May God, in His mercy, grant him the reward of the faithful until we meet never to part again.”
