The central planning committee for the celebration of the 80th birthday of former Vice President Alex Ekwueme is set to hold an international seminar on Ekwueme's legacies tomorrow. He will clock 80 years on October 21, 2012.

A statement signed by the committee's chairman, Chief Chyna Iwuanyanwu said the colloquium, which would be chaired by the former head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, would have President Goodluck Jonathan as chief guest of honour.

Also to be in attendance is Ekwueme's former principal, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, who would serve as the father of the day, while the president-general of Ohaneze, Amb. Raph Uwaechue, is chief host.

Iwuanyanwu said that the Federal Capital Territory minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, would serve as host. Anambra State Governor Peter Obi is the host governor while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor Professor Chukwuma Soludo are the chairman and the secretary of the central planning committee respectively.

Also expected in attendance are members of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Middle Belt Forum, South-South Assembly, Ohaneze and Afenifere.

Iwuanyanwu said that "the colloquium, which will take place at 10am on Tuesday 16, 2012 at the Thisday Dome in Abuja, is designed to celebrate the legacies of Dr Alex Ekwueme as a patriotic and visionary leader. 'The international colloquium is the high point of the activities lined up to celebrate the birthday of the former vice president.

"Ekwueme is a genuinely patriotic Nigerian leader whose place in history cannot be ignored, especially with the emergence of Abuja as FCT under the Shehu Shagari administration.

"His contribution during the Abacha's constitutional conference resulted in the emergence of the six geo-political zonal structures and the rotation of the presidency and the other offices which have now been acclaimed as the panacea for peace, stability and justice by the most vicious proponents of his minority report at the conference".