The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has joined the nation in mourning the deaths of two distinguished Nigerian statesmen: former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Uwais, and former Minister of Education and Petroleum Resources, Professor Jibril Aminu.

In a heartfelt tribute shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Friday, Obi hailed both men as visionary and principled leaders whose legacies would continue to inspire generations.

“Justice Uwais was an outstanding jurist who upheld the rule of law and ensured that justice prevailed under his watch,” Obi wrote.
“Equally significant was his contribution to deepening our democracy through the renowned Uwais Report, which laid the groundwork for vital electoral reforms.”

Turning his tribute to Professor Aminu, Obi lauded the former minister as a bold, futuristic educationist, whose commitment to inclusive education was well ahead of its time.

“Professor Aminu was a conscientious educationist who also served as President of OPEC.
I admired his bold vision to bring education to the grassroots through the controversial nomadic education system, designed to reach herdsmen wherever they were,” Obi said.

“He was both futuristic and revolutionary in his approach. Had the programme been sustained, it would have significantly improved access to education for pastoral communities.
Professor Aminu was a man who saw tomorrow and understood the transformative power of mass education as a catalyst for national development.”

Obi expressed profound sorrow at the loss of the two statesmen, emphasizing that Nigeria urgently needs more leaders with their calibre, foresight, and integrity to confront the nation’s pressing challenges.

He extended condolences to their families and to the governments of Kaduna and Adamawa States, praying for strength for their loved ones.

“May Almighty Allah grant them eternal rest and give their families the strength to bear the loss,” he concluded.