Remembering Alex Ekwueme amid Growing Anxiety and Security Concerns

As Nigeria approaches another general election, Chief Handel Okoli urges reflection on the ideas and legacy of former vice-president Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, born in 1932 and who died in 2017. Ekwueme’s contributions included support for multiparty democracy, constitutionalism, the rule of law, federal restructuring and fair allocation of political offices among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. Okoli identifies national integration as one of his most important legacies and argues that the Buhari administration missed an opportunity to address unresolved national issues after setting aside the National Conference report handed over by President Jonathan. Ekwueme believed Nigeria’s unity depended in part on addressing ethnic and regional groups’ fears of domination, exclusion and marginalisation.