From Christiana Ekpa, Lokoja
The Immediate past governor of Kogi State, Capt. Idris I. Wada has described the death of Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Barrister James Ocholi as a big loss to the Igala nation in particular, and humanity in general.
Wada made the comment while commiserating with people of the state and the family of the deceased in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.
Ocholi, along with his and a son, died in a ghastly motor accident along Abuja- Kaduna highway on Sunday.
Lamenting Ocholi’s death, Wada said it occurred when he was most needed, and that his transition would leave a big gap in the country’s political and judicial space.
In a condolence message signed by his Media Aide, Mr. Jacob Edi, the former governor extolled the virtues of the departed politician and urged people to emulate his footsteps.
Capt. Wada urged the people of Kogi State and Nigerians in general to take the incident in good faith, saying death is an unavoidable end of all mortals.
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While wishing the deceased eternal rest, he prayed to God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss.
Also reacting on the minister’s death, the Immediate pasted Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Yomi Awoniyi, expressed shock and pain, however appealing to the people of the state to take solace in his impactful life.
In a statement signed by Mike Abu, his Chief Press Secretary, Awoniyi equally lamented the painful termination of lives of Barr Ocholi’s wife, Fatima Blessing Ocholi, son Joshua Ocholi and driver in the tragic accident.
While commiserating with the surviving members of the late Minister’s family, President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Yahaya Bello, Awoniyi said sad as the occurrence is, there is solace to be taken in the impactful life that the late barrister lived.
He described as a cruel irony the fact that Barrister Ocholi who had strived to avail the state and the country of his skill and experience, had been taken away when the long pursued opportunity had finally arrived.
He described the death of Barrister Ocholi as a corporate loss to Kogi State and a monumental loss to Nigeria.
Awoniyi appealed to the state and federal government, family and friends to accord the surviving members of Ocholi’s family maximum support, in recognition of the worthy life and service that the late Minister represented before his sad death.