Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan said Wednesday he received 'with immense sadness and a deep feeling of national  loss' the news of the death on Monday of the former Speaker of the House of Representatives and foremost Nigerian politician Edwin Ume-Ezeoke.

In a statement issued here Wednesday by his spokesman, President Jonathan extended his heartfelt condolences to members of the Ume-Ezeoke family and the opposition All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

'As they mourn Chief Ume-Ezeoke, the President urges members of his family, relatives, friends and political associates to take solace in the knowledge that he lived a very fulfilled life and made very significant contributions to the political development of Nigeria,' the statement said.

President Jonathan expressed the belief that late Ume-Ezeoke’s place in Nigerian history had been secured by his 'exemplary commitment to national peace, unity and political stability' which served the nation very well on several occasions over the long span of his political career, the most recent being his patriotic role as Chairman of the ANPP.

Chief Ume-Ezeoke was the Speaker of the House of Representatives, in the bicameral National Assembly (parliament), in the second republic.

Pana 04/08/2011