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| Mr. James Ocholi (SAN) |
Confirming
the report, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, David
Babachir Lawal told reporters that the fatal accident which took the life of
the minister in a twinkle of an eye occurred along Kaduna-Abuja Road with his
Lexus Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) at about 3.00pm on Sunday.
Lawal added
that the President delegated his office to formally convey the news to members
of the late minister’s family and parishioners in his place of worship.
“I will like
to confirm that at about 3 pm today, the Honourable Minister of State
for Labour and Employment, James Ocholi was involved in a motor accident on his
way to Abuja from Kaduna State alongside his wife and son.
“This thing
has never happened and the President is in shock. All members of the Federal
Executive Council are in shock and indeed, all Nigerians are in shock. We
commiserate with Nigerians. The President wants us to extend his condolences to
Nigerians, the people of Kogi and the immediate family of James Ocholi.
“Personally,
I have known James Ocholi for more than 20 years. We have been friends both in
politics and in Christian circle and I am indeed personally saddened that I
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 Kogi State Government for the next line of action.
May God comfort all of us”, the SGF said.
In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the
President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, Buhari regretted over the
untimely death stating that the deceased Minister of State was a committed and
distinguished agent 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.
“The entire
country mourns the loss of this great man, who has sadly left us when we need
him most,” President Buhari said.
The
President also sent his condolences to the surviving members of his family, the
government and people of Kogi State describing the incident as a national
tragedy and prayed for the fortitude to bear the loss.
In similar vein, the National Secretariat of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) has sent condolences to the family and people of
Kogi State.
In a
statement by the APC National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni, he described the death
as a great loss to the nation and prayed for the recovery of those injured in
the accident, including the late minister’s wife and driver.
The Full
Gospel Business Men Fellowship, FGBMFI, South-West District 7 has also send her
condolences on the death of the Minister who was the National Legal Adviser of
the fellowship. In a brief statement by the publicity Secretary, Mr. Tom Ogboi,
he said, urged members to remember the family and loved ones in prayers.
“Our faith
is built on Jesus Christ. We are pilgrims here on earth. Please remember the
family and loved ones in your prayers”, Ogboi said.
The Minister
of Labour, Senator Chris Ngige has described the death as shocking and to
painful to bear.
“Personally,
I lost a competent colleague and a friend. What a vanity this life
is! What an emptiness; what a nothingness we are! I pray that God
Almighty, Himself, the author of all creations would give eternal rest to
Ocholi, his wife and son. What a sad day”, Ngige said.
Other
notable Nigerians that have sent in condolences include the former Vice
President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Senator Dino Melaye among others.
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