The family of the late former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme has called on the Federal Government to facilitate a speedy completion of the mausoleum in honour of the deceased.
They made the request during a thank-you visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, yesterday.
On the delegation were his widow Beatrice and brother Prof. Laz Ekwueme.
Ekwueme, vice president between 1979 and 2003, died on November 19, 2017.
His remains were buried on February 2.
Prof. Ekwueme, the traditional ruler of Oko, Anambra State, was accompanied on the visit by elders of Oko community. He expressed gratitude to the president for approving a befitting state burial for his late brother.
He said: “We have come as a family, his spouse, children, members of the family and cabinet of Oko community and other chiefs and friends, to say thank you to Mr. President for the work he did through the committee he set up, under the chairmanship of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the presence of the Vice President at the burial itself.
“And the immortalisation they gave in renaming the Federal University, Ndufu Alike, in Ebonyi State, to Alex Ekwueme Federal University of Technology and all the other things they did towards making this burial a special one.
“And also in recognising the little efforts that my brother made in building this country, we just came to say thank you to Mr. President and his cabinet.”
He added: “I did make a request on what they (Federal Government) undertook to build – mausoleum for him and he (Buhari) said that the SGF will be advised on that.
“Having immortalised him by naming the university after him, they should now complete the undertaking to build the mausoleum for him at his place of residence. And it is best for us to undertake the construction ourselves otherwise, if we wait for the Ministry of Works to do that, it may take forever.
“So, we can undertake the construction under the supervision of ministry of works, provided the federal government pays for it. We undertake to finish it before the anniversary of his demise.”
On the legacy left behind by the former Vice President, Prof. Ekwueme said: “I have no hesitation or reservation in saying that integrity, honesty, love, selfless service to the country, unity of the geo-political area called Nigeria and equity for all, justice and fair play, that is what is most important.
“So that this country will remain strong, united, fair and a place where peace and justice reign. That was what my brother stood for and that was what he fought for till the end of his life.”