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Peter Obi mourns Exit of two great leaders
Austin Okoro DDM NEWS

Published

19 hours ago

June 10, 2025

Austin Okoro

Aminu

Uwais

The former Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency, Mr Peter Obi mourns the demise of two Nigeria leaders, Justice Mohammed Uwais and professor Jibril Aminu.

Justice Mohammed Uwais until his demise was the Chief Justice of Nigeria and he died at the age of 89 years.

Professor Jibril Aninu, before his death was the Minister of Education and Petroleum and died at age 85.

They served Nigeria outstanding in their various professions and impacted positively in the life of the people.

Obi stated this in a release on his social media handle on Wednesday 6th June 2025.

He states: “I wish to join the families, friends, and associates of two foremost Nigerians – the former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mohammed Uwais (89), and the former Minister of Education and Petroleum, Professor Jibril Aminu (85) – in mourning their passing after such illustrious service to our fatherland.

Justice Uwais was an outstanding jurist who upheld the rule of law and ensured that justice prevailed under his watch.

Equally significant was his contribution to deepening our democracy through the renowned Uwais Report, which laid the groundwork for vital electoral reforms.

In the same vein, Professor Aminu was a conscientious educationist who also served as President of OPEC.

I admired his bold vision to bring education to the grassroots through the controversial nomadic education system, designed to reach herdsmen wherever they were.

He was both futuristic and revolutionary in approach, and such a programme, had it been sustained, would have significantly improved access to education for pastoral communities.

Professor Aminu was a man who saw tomorrow and understood the transformative power of mass education as a catalyst for national development.

Nigeria needs more such visionary and committed leaders to confront the myriad challenges facing our country today.

My condolences go to their families and to the governments of Kaduna and Adamawa States.

I pray that Almighty Allah grants their souls eternal rest and gives their families the strength to bear this great loss”, He stated.

Historical perspective of Justice Mohammed Uwais and professor Jibril Aninu

Justice Mohammed Uwais and Professor Jibril Aminu were two prominent Nigerian figures who passed away on June 5 and 6, 2025, respectively. Here’s a brief overview of their historical perspectives:

Justice Mohammed Uwais
-Early Life and Career: Born on June 12, 1936, in Zaria, Kaduna State, Uwais was called to the Bar by the Middle Temple, London, in 1963.

He served as Chief Justice of Nigeria from 1995 to 2006 and played a key role in ushering in the current democratic dispensation.

Judicial Reforms: Uwais chaired a commission that published a report on electoral reform, recommending the establishment of commissions to deal with Electoral Offences, Constituency Delimitation, and Political Parties Registration and Regulation.

Legacy: Described as a “towering figure in Nigeria’s judicial history” by the current Chief Justice of Nigeria, Uwais was known for his commitment to justice, courage in defending the rule of law, and clarity in his judgments

Professor Jibril Aminu
Early Life and Career: Born in 1939 in Song, Adamawa State, Aminu was a professor of cardiology who earned his medical degree from the University of Ibadan and later earned a PhD in medicine from the Royal Post-Graduate Medical School in London.