Ocholi: We are in shock – Buhari, Kogi govt, APC

By
Olumide Iyanda
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President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed shock and sadness at the death of Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, James Ocholi (SAN), his wife and son.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, on Sunday, Buhari described the death of the minister as untimely, regretting that Nigeria had 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,” Buhari said.

He added that in the few months he had been in office, the late minister of state had already begun to distinguish himself through his commitment and dedication to his portfolio.

Buhari also condoled with the government and people of Kogi State, which 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.

Buhari also sent the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. David Babachir, to formally convey the news to members of the deceased family as well as parishioners in his place of worship.

Speaking with journalists at the National Hospital premises, Babachir stated that the three family members were killed in the crash at about 3pm.

He said, “I will like to confirm that at about 3pm today (Sunday), the Minister of State for Labour, James Ocholi (SAN), was involved in a motor accident along the Kaduna-Abuja road. In this accident, the minister lost his life, his son also lost his life, and the wife also lost her life.

“It is a very sad day indeed for Nigeria as this has never happened and President Muhammadu Buhari is in shock; all members of the Federal Executive Council are in shock and indeed all Nigerians are in shock.

“The President wants us to extend his condolence to Nigerians, the people of Kogi State and the immediate family of James Ocholi.

“Personally, I have known Ocholi for more than 20 years; we have been friends, both in politics and in Christian service. I am indeed personally saddened by this and cannot begin to express the grief that we all face.

“Now the bodies have been recovered and deposited in the mortuary and we are waiting for the immediate family and the government for the next line of action. May God comfort all of us Nigerians”.

The National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said received news of the death of ames Ocholi and his son with great shock and sadness.

The APC National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni in a condolence message described the deaths as a monumental loss.

Buni prayed for the recovery of other occupants of the ghastly vehicle accident including the late minister’s wife and driver who reportedly sustained serious injuries.

Mrs Ocholi was later confirmed dead.

The APC national secretary said the late Ocholi who was the party’s former deputy national legal adviser will be remembered for his selfless service to the country as minister, party, legal profession and his home state, Kogi.

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.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and APC National Leader, Bola Tinubu, also expressed shock at the death.

Also reacting to Ocholi’s death, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State expressed shock and described  him as a pragmatic and dynamic lawyer.

Bello in a statement issued, yesterday, in Lokoja by his Chief Press Secretary, Kingsley Fanwo, 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 unswerving constitutional lawyers Nigeria has ever produced.

“The governor recollected with nostalgia 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. The late Ocholi was a complete gentleman, who was irrevocably committed to the advancement of Nigeria,” Fanwo said.

The governor also described the late minister as a detribalised Nigerian, who believed in the oneness of the nation, summing up his death as an irreparable loss to Kogi State, Nigeria, the APC and the legal profession.

Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Umar Imam, said the late minister’s quest for peaceful resolution of every issue, be it political, community or otherwise, endeared him to the hearts of the people.

Umar in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Bawa Dangana, said though the death occurred at a time he was needed most, the people of the state would take solace in the agitation of the late minister to ensure that peace reigned in the society.

The speaker urged the family to take solace in God, and urged the people of the state to take lessons from his death and pursue peace at all times.

Governor Bello was at the National Hospital, Abuja to receive the minister’s remains, according to the governor’s new media aide, Gbenga Olorunpomi.

Other dignitaries, who were at the National Hospital to receive the corpses of the Ocholis included the Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige; Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole; Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire; Chief Medical Director of National Hospital, and Dr. Jafaru Momoh.

Others are Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (SAN); Minister of Environment, Aisha Mohammed; legal practitioner, Festus Keyamo; and Commissioner of Police in the FCT, Wilson Inalegwu.

 

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