By Ovie Okpare
President Muhammadu Buhari and Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege have described as painful the death of a former minister of petroleum, Prof Tam David-West who died on Monday morning at the University Teaching Hospital, Ibadan.
Buhari, who said he was greatly pained by the passage of his former minister, said the deceased was a “friend and ally.”
David-West served as minister of petroleum under the military regime of President Muhammadu Buhari.
He died at 83 after a brief illness on Monday.
According to a statement issued by the presidency through Mr. Femi Adesina had President Buhari describing the professor of virology as a man with “indomitable spirit.”
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“Professor Tamunoemi Sokari David-West, 83, was a consultant virologist of national and international standing. He served as Commissioner of Education in the old Rivers State, Minister of Petroleum and Energy under the Muhammadu Buhari military regime, and Minister of Mines, Power and Steel under Gen. Ibrahim Babangida regime.
“He had an indomitable spirit, stood resolutely by whatever he believed in, and was in a class of his own”, Buhari added.
The statement commiserated with the David-West’s immediate family, the people Kalabari Kingdom and the government of Rivers State of the dead of the octogenarian.
“He commiserates with the David-West family, the people of Buguma, Kalabari Kingdom of Rivers State, the academia, and all those who loved ‘the forthright Tam David-West.’
“President Buhari prays that God will rest the soul of the committed nationalist, urging all those who believe in the ideals he espoused to approximate same, for the betterment of Nigeria, and humanity in general”, it added.
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On his part, the Deputy President of the Senate, Omo-Agege described David-West, who was also a former commissioner for Education in old Rivers State as a great patriot who contributed immensely to the development of the country.
According to a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Yomi Odunuga, the Delta Central senator noted that though the former minister had gone to eternal realms, he would be remembered as a great patriot and intellectual of formidable standing at home and abroad.
“My heart goes out to his family, the people of Buguma and the Kalabari Kingdom in Rivers State; a truly great son of the Niger Delta and a great Nigerian patriot has passed on at the age of 83.
“While we mourn, we must appreciate the noble essence of his time on earth as an idealist who consistently nursed an optimistic outlook about Nigeria’s capacity for genuine transformation.
“Professor Tam David-West distinguished himself in the academia with numerous publications and in public service; he boldly rose to express well thought out criticisms in moments when undiluted truth was required in national affairs.
“With the passing of this great patriot, we have lost a true gem and we can only pray for his soul’s eternal repose and fortitude for the family he left behind”, the Deputy President of the Senate added.
