Audu’s death, rude shock — Oshiomhole

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has described the death of Prince Abubakar Audu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the November 21 gubernatorial election in Kogi State as a rude shock.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Peter Okhiria, the Governor said: “I received with shock, the sad news of the death of Prince Abubakar Audu, candidate of our great party in the Kogi state gubernatorial election.


“I was with Prince Audu just a few days ago, at the mega rally of our great party, where we marketed our party’s manisfesto to the electorate and he looked hale and hearty as he dished out his plans to restore the glory of his state.

“His death, coming just as we were getting ready to celebrate his unassailable lead at the polls, is a sad reminder on the transience of life.
“There is no doubt that Kogi state has lost a gentleman, a certified performer whose legacies as a first-term Governor remain unmatched in the state.

Even as we mourn his untimely death, we are consoled that he made quality contributions to the development of his state and lived a life worthy of emulation.

“I express my deep personal sympathy, and the condolences of the Government and people of Edo State to his family. I pray Almighty Allah grants his soul Aljannah Firdaus.

Also Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha has expressed shock over what he termed “the sudden death of Prince Abubakar Audu, the Kogi State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the election held at the weekend”.

Chief Okorocha made his feelings known yesterday, in a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, CPS, Mr. Samuel Onwuemeodo.

“The death of the APC gubernatorial candidate in Kogi State came when no one expected it, but God knew why he allowed it to happen few poles to his coming back as the Executive Governor of that state”, Okorocha said.

Continuing, the Imo Governor also said that the death of the Prince should be a solid lesson for everybody, irrespective of his status in life.

“The sudden death Prince Audu should also be a lesson to all of us to appreciate our limitations as human beings. We are all pencils in the hand of the Creator”, Okorocha said.

He then extended his heart felt condolences, on behalf of his family and the entire people of Imo State, to President Mohammadu Buhari, the APC National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, the people of Kogi state, and those left behind to mourn the departed gentleman.

The Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed has described as painful and very shocking the death of the All Progressives Congress Governorship candidate in last Saturday Governorship election in Kogi state, Alhaji Abubakar Audu.

Governor Ahmed in a condolence message made available to journalists in Ilorin on Monday commiserated with the Government and People of Kogi State on the death of Alhaji Audu who was the first Governor of Kogi State.

“It is particularly painful that Nigerians, especially the people of Kogi State have lost the services of Alhaji Abubakar Audu who was on the verge of been re-elected as the governor of Kogi State, going by the results of the election declared so far by INEC.

It is however note worthy that the political history of Kogi State will be incomplete without a chapter on the contributions of Late Abubakar Audu to the democratic and infrastructural development of Kogi state”, Ahmed said.

Dr Ahmed noted that late governor Audu has played his part in the political annals of Nigeria before leaving the world on a high note as a man popularly loved by his people as the results of the last gubernatorial election in Kogi, so far, has shown.

The governor prayed Allah to grant Audu eternal rest and the family as well as the good people of Kogi State the fortitude to bear the loss.