A sad story

Rahmon Momoh

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Apr 4, 1997, 3:00:00 AM4/4/97

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LAGOS, Nigeria (Reuter) - The deputy chairman of the committee
responsible for implementing Nigeria's transition to civilian rule, Sam
Goomsu Ikoku, died Thursday at the age of 71, local media reported Friday.

They quoted his eldest son, Sam, as saying his father died in his
hometown of Awka in eastern Nigeria where he was on assignment to supervise
the re-running of local council elections.

The cause of death was not given.

Ikoku was a close adviser of military ruler Gen. Sani Abacha.

One of Nigeria's most controversial politicians, he was general secretary
of the opposition Action Group in the 1960s and was charged with treason, but
before his trial began he fled to Ghana where he was close to then President
Kwame Nkrumah.

Ikoku abandoned opposition politics in the 1980s and campaigned for a
system of government called ``diarchy'' under which the military and
politicians would share power to end the cycle of coups in Nigeria.

As deputy chairman of the committee overseeing Abacha's program for
transition to civilian rule, he said the plan would fail if politicians did
not show they were mature enough to govern Africa's most populous nation.

12:03 04-04-97

Lawson-Jack, Sepribo

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Apr 4, 1997, 3:00:00 AM4/4/97

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It's even sadder to have lost this doyen of Nigerian politics
at such a critical time. May his soul rest in God's peace
and watch over Nigeria.

S Lawson-Jack
p.s I had always thought his middle name was Grace. Goomsu?

>----------
>From: Rahmon Momoh[SMTP:Rahm...@AOL.COM]
>Sent: Friday, April 04, 1997 12:22 PM
>To: Lawson-Jack, Sepribo
>Subject: A sad story

Linus Thomas-Ogbuji

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Apr 5, 1997, 3:00:00 AM4/5/97

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No, sir: The news source Rahmon quoted did NOT say Ikoku was from Awka. It
said he died at Awka (where he had gone to see to some election matters).
It appears Rahamon then assumed the man died in his own home. The Ikokus,
an illustrious clan one and all, are from Arochukwu.

Linus

----------
> From: Ide ju Ogwugwu <iko...@mackenzie.usask.ca>
> To: NAIJ...@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> Subject: Re: A sad story
> Date: Saturday, April 05, 1997 4:48 PM
>
> At 04:21 PM 4/5/97 -0500, Christie Dike wrote:
> >Rahmon,
> >
> >S.G. Ikoku's hometown is not Awka. Please investigate and issue
necessary
> >correction for the sake of history, and for the interest of those who
would
> >like to know. This a serious error. Please check the accuracy of your
facts
> >next time.
> >
>
> Roy, Rahmon did not write the story. So, he cannot be blamed for the
mess.
> He only posted what he received from the newswire. Yes, SG is not from
> Awka. He's not from Anambra state. But, it was not Rahmon's fault for
> the wrong placing. WE have to thank him for posting the news.
>
> May SG's soul rest in peace.
>
> Oguocha

Rahmon Momoh

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Apr 5, 1997, 3:00:00 AM4/5/97

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In a message dated 97-04-05 16:54:35 EST, iko...@mackenzie.usask.ca (Ide ju

Ogwugwu) writes:
> Roy, Rahmon did not write the story. So, he cannot be blamed for the mess.
> He only posted what he received from the newswire. Yes, SG is not from
> Awka. He's not from Anambra state. But, it was not Rahmon's fault for
> the wrong placing. WE have to thank him for posting the news.
>
> May SG's soul rest in peace.
>
> Oguocha

Thank you for your comments. I should point out that you corrected the
Reuter's news apparent error in a private message yesterday. IMO, the main
issue is not where the man came from, but the fact that he is no longer with
us.

Again, may his soul rest in perfect peace.

rahmon...
----------------------

Ide ju Ogwugwu

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Apr 5, 1997, 3:00:00 AM4/5/97

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At 04:21 PM 4/5/97 -0500, Christie Dike wrote:
>Rahmon,
>
>S.G. Ikoku's hometown is not Awka. Please investigate and issue necessary
>correction for the sake of history, and for the interest of those who would
>like to know. This a serious error. Please check the accuracy of your facts
>next time.
>

Roy, Rahmon did not write the story. So, he cannot be blamed for the mess.

Christie Dike

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Apr 5, 1997, 3:00:00 AM4/5/97

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Rahmon,

S.G. Ikoku's hometown is not Awka. Please investigate and issue necessary
correction for the sake of history, and for the interest of those who would
like to know. This a serious error. Please check the accuracy of your facts
next time.

It is a sad story. And may his soul rest in peace.

Thank you,

Roy Dike.

ben. ihesiaba

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Apr 6, 1997, 4:00:00 AM4/6/97

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HIS NAME IS SAM GRACE IKOKWU.
ben.

Lawson-Jack, Sepribo <s...@ORBIT.HR.ATT.COM> wrote in article
<c=US%a=_%p=ATT%l=EXCHR01-97040...@exchr04.cb.att.com>...