Alexander Okonkwo, a public affairs analyst, has stated that Alex Ekwueme, an Igbo man, served as the vice president of Nigeria under late President Shehu Shagari, a Hausa man, less than ten years after the Nigerian Civil War. This, he explained, demonstrated the level of political maturity, intelligence, and education that existed in Nigeria in 1979.
In a live coverage by Silverbird TV from 6:14, Okonkwo urged the current generation of political leaders to live up to the standards set by the past leaders like Shagari and Ekwueme
In Okonkwo’s words: “Can you believe that Alex Ekwueme, an Igboman was the vice president, and running mate iniitially, of late President Shehu Shagari. This happened less than 10 years after the Civil War. Can you believe that 10 years after civil war, an Igbo man still became the vice president of a Hausa man. It just shows you the kind of intelligence, the kind of education, the kind of political space that was existing in the 1979”.