Late Prof. Uya
From: Diana Okon-Effiong, Calabar
Prof. Okon Edet Uya, a Professor of African and African-American-American History and one time Nigerian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Argentina is dead.
Uya, formerly Chairman of the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON) in the regime of President Ibrahim Babangida died Thursday afternoon at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH).
Our correspondent, who visited his 149 parliamentary road residence, reports that it was quiet with few brooding family and church members.
Mr Edet Uya, a staff of the University of Uyo a sibling of the deceased confirmed the death of their brother saying.
“I feel very bad. He has been my mentor but I have thank god for everything. He gave his life to God before he passed on”
“We have to give him a befitting burial and he was an international figure. He died this afternoon even though he has been down for over two weeks.
“He spoke with the wife this morning before he gave up. He died in the teaching hospital and we wanted to fly him but we wanted him to stabilize”.
Uya’s associate, Dr Edwin Madunagu said: “my reaction was not of a shock because like many of us he was not in excellent health for some time to now. I know philosophically such a thing could happen to any of us in that type of age bracket.
“But his passing on saddens me because the relationship I had with this man is the type of relationship I have with some frontline Nigerian statesmen.
“It was unique and unique in the sense that they are two sided. One side he is seen and expected by the public the other is private.
“In summary I will say intellectually and by instinct and naturally Uya was a progressive and a socialist,’’ he said. E
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