THE All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed shock over the death of Professor Tam David-West.
The former Minister of Petroleum and Energy and also Minister of Mines, Power and Steel died at the weekend.
The ruling party in a statement signed by its national publicity secretary, Mallam Lanre Isa-Onilu described the exit of the late Professor of Virology as a great loss to the progressive camp in Nigeria.
The party described ProfessorTam David-West as a social critic who spoke truth to power.
“An erudite scholar, the late Tam David-West always held our leaders to account on issues of good governance,” the party noted.
The APC recalled “his strong advocacy for oil sector reforms, particularly the passage of a mutually-beneficial Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), fixing moribund refineries and ending the fuel subsidy racket that was a drainpipe on the country’s resources before the advent of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
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“While the death of the late patriot is painful and a sad loss, we take solace with the fact that he lived an accomplished and impactful life. In death, we remember and celebrate a man who served the country diligently and championed the cause of the poor and underprivileged.”
The party in the statement further condoled with the late Tam David-West family members, friends, colleagues, the people and government of Rivers State and “pray the Almighty God gives them the strength to bear the loss.”
In his own tribute, Deputy Senate President, Omo Agege in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Yomi Odunuga in Abuja on Monday, described Prof David-West as “an idealist who consistently nursed an optimistic outlook about Nigeria’s capacity for genuine transformation.”
“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.
“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,” he stated.
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