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Ocholis' death not natural —Family

Ocholis’ death not natural —Family
 
By:
Wed, 9 Mar 2016   ||   Nigeria, Kogi
 

Members of the family of the late Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Productivity, James Ocholi, on Tuesday, said the death of the minister, his wife and son in an accident was not natural.

This was just as the traditional ruler of  his community, the Onu Abocho, Dr Tijani Okutachi, said the entire community was devastated by the news of Ocholi death.

Speaking with newsmen in Udanebiomi, Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, Mr Jonah Paul, cousin to the late politician, said the circumstances surrounding Ocholis’ death was beyond the ordinary.

He, however, said as Christians, the family members had resolved to take the development as an act of God.

He described the late minister as a rallying point in the community and the family, whose demise had left a vacuum.

According to him, the deceased died one week to his thanksgiving service over his recent appointment as a minister by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Paul said: “It is unfortunate that this has happened to us in this family. We had expected that we will join him in praising God for his appointment as a minister, but that is not to be. He had earlier fixed the programme for last Sunday, but had to shift it to next Sunday, because he said the president wanted to see him last Friday.

“His death is a great loss to us, as we lack words to express our feelings over his death. He was very good to the family; he didn’t discriminate, as he carried everybody along.

Also speaking, the Onu of Abuchi, who is the paramount ruler of Biraidu, said the death of Ocholi was shocking to the community, describing it as a disaster.

He said: “The death came to us as a rude shock; it is very unfortunate that he died like that, the minister was a man of his words. He was always on his feet. He participated in all the activities of the community.

“The demise has created a lot of setback to my district, Dekina Local Government  Area and the country at large. He was a community leader.

“Whatever death that comes always come from God, we just take this as a disaster, it is a real disaster to the entire Igala nation and only God knows why this is so.”

Meanwhile, the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday, told the four surviving children of late Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, James Ocholi— Ojome, Aaron, Blessing and Elle, to remain strong and work towards sustaining the good legacies the late Senior Advocate left behind.

Saraki, who led a 16-man delegation of the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly to the Abdulrahman Mora Street, Kado, Abuja home of the late Minister of State, said Ocholi was a hardworking and devoted family man, who worked alongside late Abubakar Audu to take the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the nooks and crannies of Kogi State.

He said: “We worked closely together during the teething days of the APC, having come from the same North Central zone. He did a great job and demonstrated his brilliance, dedication and commitment. Now, he is gone, we cannot question God. He sets his own time for all of us.”

The lawmaker promised that the close associates of the late minister would not forget the family and they would continue to support them.

In the condolence register, Saraki described Ocholi as “a committed party man” and prayed to God to grant him, his wife and son eternal rest.

Personal Assistant to the late minister, Dr Hammond, who spoke on behalf of the family, said it was true that Ocholi had a personal relationship with the Senate President, as both men worked hard to entrench the APC in the North Central zone.

He thanked the Senate on behalf of the family, for deeming it fit to pass a resolution and follow it up with a visit.

The Senate had earlier passed a resolution, moved by Senator Dino Melaye, urging it to observe a minute silence in honour of the deceased persons, as well as urged the Federal Government to immortalise him, prayed the Kogi State government to grant scholarship to the children still in school and finally send a delegation to condole with the family.

Reacting, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo, has described the passing of Mr James Ocholi as a personal tragedy to the legal profession in particular and the country as a whole.

Ojo, who is a past President of the Nigeria Bar Association, recalled Ocholi’s passion for the legal profession both in public and private life.

According to him, “the country is mourning today. It just lost one of its most passionately-committed individual. Ocholi was a rare breed in defining commitment to the Bar. He was a consummate lawyer and a good family man. His story of forthrightness and upright conduct in politics would surely endure alongside his memory that is bound to be eternal.”

Ocholi actually attended a church service in Kaduna, on Sunday, where he made some spiritual and political statements.

It was learnt the late Minister was invited at the instance of the General Overseer of Restoration Bible Church, Bishop Tunde Bolanta, to partake in the final day of a week-long activities of the church in Kaduna.

According to some of the church workers and worshippers, who pleaded anonymity, they said when it was the turn of the late minister to speak, he advised members of the congregation to beware of the end of time because of high rate of abnormalities happening in the society nowadays.

Ocholi was also quoted to have used the church event to appeal to Nigerians to be patience with the government of President Buhari, adding that hardship being experienced in the country would soon be a thing of the past.

The late minister was equally quoted to have advised that the people must put God first in whatever they were doing and added that Nigerians should always pray for APC government to succeed.

However, the church workers who were still in shock, said the late minister did not show any sign that he was living the world, pointing out that nobody knew that would be his last words and outing.

They prayed God to grant the departed soul eternal peace.

 

 

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