Various leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as well as other members from opposition parties including stakeholders across the country on Thursday thronged the residence of late Ojo Maduekwe in Abuja to sympathise with his family.

Ahmed Makarfi, Chairman of PDP National Caretaker Committee, who led a team of the caretaker committee members to the Abuja home of the late minister, expressed shock over the sudden demise of Maduekwe.

Makarfi, during the condolence visit said, “It is a very sad thing, we are still in a state of mourning. We will continue to be in a state of mourning for a very long time.

“Death comes when it would come but this is a rude shock to all of us. PDP members across the world, wherever they are, know that we have lost a rare gem and we will continue to mourn him as long as we are alive.”

Also, Ali Modu Sheriff, the embattled former National Chairman of the party, described the death as a huge loss not only to the party, but also to the nation at large.

“Indeed, our hearts bleed over this very huge loss not only to our party but also to our nation at large. Undeniably, our country has lost one of her best. Chief Ojo Maduekwe was a great Nigerian, an exceptionally brilliant lawyer, a quintessential administrator and very patriotic citizen,” he said.

His comments were contained in a press statement issued by his media aide.

Ben Obi, Secretary of PDP Caretaker Committee, described Maduekwe as a champion of robust and vibrant intellectual discuss, adding that an encounter with him is an encounter with a gifted and courageous personality.

While Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, the former National Chairman of PDP, said that in Ojo’s death, Nigeria has lost yet again one of the great minds whose intellectual prowess could still have been handy to the country at this time.

 Prince Uche Secondus, the immediate past Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, in a statement described as shocking, Ojo Maduekwe sudden death, adding that PDP and indeed Nigeria has lost a resource person and an honest man.

Idris Wada, former governor of Kogi State, who also mourned Maduekwe, said that the absence of the erudite and eloquent politician would be felt by the PDP and the nation in general, adding that the former Ambassador to Canada’s contribution to the development and advancement of democracy in Nigeria would remain indelible.