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| James Ocholi - Oak TV screengrab |
*Driver, Chief Detail, Orderly, PA injured
Minister of State for
Labour and Employment James Ocholi (SAN) died yesterday in an accident on the
Kaduna-Abuja road. He was 55.
The Nation report continues:
The
accident in which Ocholi’s wife, Blessing and son, Aaron also died, occurred at
Rijana, Kilometre 57 on the highway.
Ocholi
and his wife were married for 27 years.
Kaduna
State sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Mr. Francis
Udoma said: “The minister and his son died on the spot; the wife died in the
government hospital in Doka, Kaduna State.
“The
driver, the chief detail, the orderly and the P.A (Personal Assistant ) were
injured.”
Kaduna
Police spokesman Zubairu Abubakar confirmed the accident, which he said
occurred because the Lexus Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) the family was
travelling in lost a tyre while on speed.
A
source said the Minister was on his way back to Abuja after attending a
thanksgiving church service in Kaduna.
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•Crash scene - The badly mangled Lexus
Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)...yesterday
|
Federal
Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Kaduna Sector Command ACM Victor Nwokolo told The
Nation on telephone that three persons were confirmed dead.
He
said the accident occurred when the tyre of the Lexus SUV they were traveling
in got bust, causing the vehicle to somersault.
He
said bodies of the dead and those injured were taken to the National Hospital.
He
said: “There is an accident involving the minister’s convoy. Our men are on
ground at the scene of the accident, but I am not the one to disclose what has
happened now since he is a serving minister.
“It
happened at Doka village and I am not on ground there. We have a unit at Kateri
and the ambulance is there. I am talking with them on telephone.”
Residents
of Kogi State, where the late minister hailed from, were yesterday thrown into
shock.
The
eminent lawyer, who hailed from Ogbabede/Abocho in Dekina Local Government
Area, was one of President Mohammadu Buhari’s nominees.
Kogi
State Governor Yahaya Bello was shocked by the minister’s death.
Bello
described the late Ocholi as a pragmatic, dynamic, humane and brilliant law
officer, who was known around the world for his dexterous approach to legal and
political issues and one of the most unwavering constitutional lawyers
Nigeria has ever produced.
The
governor recollected how the late Senior Advocate of Nigeria joined other
progressive-minded individuals around the country to drive the intellectual
pillars of the All Progressives Congress (APC), just as he described the late
Ocholi as a complete gentleman who was irrevocably committed to the advancement
of Nigeria.
He
described his death as an irreparable loss to Kogi State, Nigeria, the APC and
the legal profession, praying for the repose of the soul of the departed.
The
APC Kogi State chapter, described Ocholi’s death as a great loss.
Treasurer
Ismail Yahaya Adesayo described the death “very unfortunate”.
He
remembered the late Ocholi as a fine leader who meant well for state and
Nigeria.
He
lamented that Ocholi died when his service was most needed in the state,
praying to God to grant him eternal rest and give his family the fortitude to
bear the loss.
He
prayed to God not to take away the state’s leaders again, adding that the party
is mourning.
Ocholi was the defunct
Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) governorship candidate during the
December 2011 governorship election in Kogi State.
Buhari, APC, Atiku, Others Mourn
The
Nation reports that President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday expressed shock and
sadness over the death of the Minister.
Buhari,
in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam
Garba Shehu, described Ocholi’s death as “untimely”, regretting that Nigeria
has lost a key component of the change agenda.
“Barrister
Ocholi was an accomplished and patriotic Nigerian, who was keen to accept the
call to service at a time his country needed him,” President Buhari said.
He
said that the late minister of state in the few months he had been in office
had already begun to distinguish himself through his commitment to his
portfolio.
President
Buhari also condoled with the government and people of Kogi State, who he described
as having lost a distinguished and irreplaceable son.
He
prayed that God would comfort them and grant them the grace to bear the loss.
“The
entire country mourns the loss of this great man, who has sadly left us when we
need him most,” he said.
President
Buhari has sent Secretary to the Government of the Federation David Babachir
Lawal to convey the news to members of the late minister’s family and
parishioners in his place of worship.
The
National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said it received
the news with great shock and sadness.
The
APC National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni in a condolence message described his
death as a monumental loss.
Buni
prayed for the recovery of those injured in the accident, including the late
minister’s wife and driver.
The
APC National Secretary said the late Ocholi, who was the party’s Deputy
National Legal Adviser, will be remembered for his selfless service.
While
extending his condolences to the people and government of Kogi State, Buni
prayed to Almighty God to grant Ocholi’s immediate family the fortitude to bear
the painful loss.
The
Kaduna state government has expressed deep shock over the incident.
The
government in a statement by spokesman to governor Nasir El-Rufai, Mr. Samuel
Aruwan said the incident was devastating.
“The
state government extends its heartfelt condolences to President Mohammadu
Buhari and the Ocholi family.
“Our
condolences goes to members of the Federal Executive Council and the entire
nation, the minister died at a critical time when his contributions in the
ongoing national rebirth and realization of the change mantra are needed.
“May
the almighty God grant their souls eternal rest” the statement said.
Former
Vice President Atiku Abubakar, in a press statement from the media
office, described the late Ocholi as: “a wise and brilliant man, who was
expected to impact significantly on the Buhari administration and the lives of
Nigerians in many positive ways”.
Atiku
lamented that the nation has lost a committed professional whose place in his
profession, political party and the budding administration, would be hard to
fill.
The
statement urged those who knew the deceased, notably President Buhari, his
colleagues at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the generality of Nigerians
to take heart.
Atiku
also prayed for the repose of his soul, and for the quick recovery of his driver, who survived the accident.
The former Vice President
urged the bereaved family to take consolation in the fact that the late Ocholi
was a much-beloved person, and an achiever whose contribution to
nation-building and his community would not be easily forgotten.
Crash scene pic source - lindaikeji'sblog
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