Prof Tam David-West, former Minister of Petroleum and Energy, has died at the age of 83.
In a statement on Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari mourned the late statesman whom he described as his ally and friend.
He served as minister of petroleum and energy under Buhariโs military regime as well as minister of mines, power, and steel under former military president Ibrahim Babangida.
He was also a commissioner of education in the old Rivers state, and was described by the president as โa consultant virologist of national and international standingโ.
A statement by Garba Shehu, Buhariโs spokesman, quoted the president as saying David-West had โan indomitable spirit, stood resolutely by whatever he believed in, and was in a class of his ownโ.
โHe commiserates with the David-West family, the people of Buguma, Kalabari Kingdom of Rivers State, the academia, and all those who loved โthe forthright Tam David-Westโ,โ the statement added.
โPresident Buhari prays that God will rest the soul of the committed nationalist, urging all those who believe in the ideals he espoused to approximate same, for the betterment of Nigeria, and humanity.โ
David-West wrote many books and was a social critic who spoke strongly on national issues.
