Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum during General Muhammadu Buhari’s military rule, Prof. Tamunoemi Sokari David-West, popularly known as Tam David-West has died. He was aged 83.
Although the circumstances surrounding his death is yet to be ascertained, President Buhari, in a statement released by his media aide, Garba Shehu, mourned the former Minister who he described as an “ally and friend.”
President Buhari said that the man he usually calls “the indomitable Tam David-West,” truly had an indomitable spirit. According to him, David-West who was the former Commissioner of Education in the old Rivers State, Minister of Petroleum and Energy under his military regime, and Minister of Mines, Power and Steel under Gen. Ibrahim Babangida regime, “had an indomitable spirit and stood resolutely by whatever he believed in, and was in a class of his own as an academic, author of many books, and social critic.
The President commiserated with the David-West family, the people of Buguma, Kalabari Kingdom of Rivers State, the academia, and all those who loved “the forthright Tam David-West.”
He prayed that God will rest the soul of the ”committed nationalist”, urging all those who believe in the ideals he espoused to follow his example for the good of Nigeria and humanity in general.