APC guber candidate AUDU buried

The remains of All Progressives Congress, APC, gubernatorial candidate in Saturday’s election in Kogi State, Prince Abubarka Audu were laid to rest in Ogbonicha, his village in Ofu Local Government Area of the state yesterday.
His remains were committed to mother earth at exactly 1.32p.m. after two rakat Islamic rite amidst tears and wailing, as women cried uncontrollably.

Audu developed complication on Friday night at his residence in Lokoja when he allegedly vomited blood after a meal.
It was learnt that he managed to get to his Ogbonicha country home, where he performed his last civic rights and voted at polling 010 at LGEA primary school in the town.

He died in the early hours of Sunday before the result of the election, which he was leading with over 41, 351 was announced.
The election was however declared inconclusive by Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. As early as 6a.m. sympathisers, friends and political associate from far and near had thronged his residence to sympathise with his family.

At about 10a.m. there was mild drama and wild jubilation as news of the resurrection of the political icon rented the air.
The drama started when a 22 year old self acclaimed pastor, a lady came and told security personnel that God sent her to pray for Audu, saying the politician was not dead.

As soon the door of the house where the corpse was kept was opened for the self acclaimed pastor, jubilation rent the air and the crowd, including, Muslims, Christians and traditionalists engaged themselves in serious prayer that last for two hours.
The jubilation reached a crescendo, when the lady pastor came out and told the crowd that she had prayed and Audu had come back from the land of the dead. However, the reality of the situation soon dawned on the crowd when some Islamic cleric came with a coffin.

The entire scenario changed immediately and the sympathisers burst into tears. Among the early callers were Senators Rabiu Kwankwaso and George Akume, former governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion, former Niger State governor, Alhaji Abdulkadiri Kure, former Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Jibrin Usman and Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Yomi Awoniyi.
Other dignitaries were National Chairman of APC , Chief John Odigie Oyegun, Senator Dino Melaye, former acting governor of Kogi State Clearence Olafemi, House of Representatives member representing Lokoja Koton Karfe constituency, Buba Jibrin, son of immediate past governor Mohammed Idris who represented Ankpa/Omala/Olamaboro federal constituency.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari, APC governors, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Senate President, Bukola Saraki yesterday described Audu’s death as chocking President Buhari, who is attending the Third Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Tehran, Iran, according to a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media mad Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said he received the news of Audu’s death with an enormous sense of shock.

He said the gubernatorial of APC died a talented and courageous politician. According to Shehu, the President in his immediate reaction was devastated by the news of the loss.
The statement said: “President Buhari condoles with the family of the late governor, the government and people of Kogi State as well as all our party members, men and women who stood with Audu in his bid to return as governor.

He ran as the favorite in the election as the early results have clearly shown.”

APC Governors Forum in its own reaction described the death of Audu as the most tragic anti-climax in contemporary Nigerian politics.

In a statement, the Chairman of the Forum and Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha said the death of the twice governor came to them as a rude shock.
He said: “The death of Prince Audu Abubakar is indeed one of the most tragic anti-climax in contemporary Nigerian politics. “Prince Audu Abubakar’s dogged political profile translates to consistency in pursuing the greater good.

He was one of the few leaders who championed the campaign for the creation of Kogi State.

“Kogi electorate recognised his commitment to the development of the State when in November 1991 they elected him as the first civilian governor of the state.

Unfortunately, Prince Abubakar’s brilliant stint in office was cut short by military intervention in 1993.

At the return of democratic rule in 1999, Kogi people returned him with a fresh mandate.

“At every opportunity to serve his people, Prince Audu Abubakar had always put his hands to the plough.

“A few of Prince Abubakar’s landmark legacies include the Kogi State Government House, Kogi State University, Kogi State Polytechnic, Kogi State Television, Radio and Newspaper outfits, Kogi State Stadium, hundreds of rural electrification and water projects, Beach Confluence Hotel, three major housing estates, attraction of major industrial concerns to Kogi State and the transformation of Lokoja into a modern state capital.

“Given this painful passage, we can only surrender to the will of the Almighty God. We condole with the family of Prince Audu Abubakar, the good people of Kogi State, the leadership of our great party, APC members all over the world and all lovers of democracy.”

Reacting to Audu’s death, PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus charged its members in Kogi State and across the nation to remember the decased, his family and loved ones in their prayers.

In a statement by National Publicity Secretary Chief Olisa Metuh, the party said it was shocked by the news of the sudden death of Audu.

The party however said it would not comment on Saturday’s election because of the recent happening. “At this critical moment, PDP refrains from comments on the conduct of the election. That is not important now. “What is important at this point is the sanctity of human life.

Our deepest thoughts and prayers go to the family of Prince Abubakar Audu and indeed, the APC fold,” it said. Saraki, in his own reaction, described as painful and shocking, the demise of the two-time governor.

He said the late politician died a dogged and visionary leader. Saraki in a statement signed by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, recalled the tenacity of purpose and unwavering loyalty of the deceased, who he said remained committed to the course of his people and his party to the very last moment of his life.

Saraki said: “He was selfless, steadfast and patriotic in his services to the people of Kogi State and beyond. He was a visionary and patriotic party faithful. All his life time, he lived for the people.

His death is extremely painful but we cannot question the will of the Almighty Allah in the present sorrowful circumstances.”

In a related development, APC said it will explore all known choices and alternatives in line with party’s dictates and rule of law as regard the demise of Prince Audu.

In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by Acting National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Timi Frank, the party expressed shock over the death, adding that the late Audu would have been the best governor like he was in the state before.

The statement said: “We are exploring all known choices and alternatives to us in line with our party’s dictates and respect of the rule of law as is in conformity with laid down laws and rules of our country.

“The past 24 hours has been one that of gloom, pain, shock and grief best describe, following the death of strongman of Kogi politics, a dependable party man and our governorship candidate in last Saturday’s election, Prince Abubakar Audu, who was clearly headed for victory having lead with the most votes.

“To say that we are shocked and dumbfounded at Audu’s death is to scratch our pains on the surface as the Kogi Prince typified what a real democrat radiates; a politician who chose to remain in opposition after losing his governorship in 2003 despite the intimidations on him but rather chose to see the nation get its deserved change in leadership.”

APC described Audu as “irreplaceable not only in the politics of Kogi State where he strode like a colossus but also in the firmament of our nation’s political history.”

The party commiserated with Audu’s family, relations, the people of Kogi State and indeed the APC family all across the world.
“We are hurt by his demise as we are sure that the late would-be governor would have emerged the best governor again and restored all that the locusts have eaten in Kogi State,” it added.

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