Ojo Maduekwe, former minister of foreign affairs, has died at 71

The cause of his death is not clear as the former minister is not know to suffer any terminal ailment.

Maduekwe, who is from Abia state, has held several ministerial positions – notably minister of transport in the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

He was also Nigeria’s high commissioner to Canada under President Goodluck Jonathan, after serving as minister of foreign affairs under President Umaru Musa Yar’Adau.

Until his death, he was the secretary of the board of trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He mediated in the leadership crisis in the party.