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Tag: Abubakar Audu

  • Kogi govt, family hold 10th memorial prayer for ex-Governor Audu

    Kogi govt, family hold 10th memorial prayer for ex-Governor Audu

    • Minister of Steel Development pays tribute to late father

    The Kogi State Government, in collaboration with the family of the late former Governor, Prince Abubakar Audu, yesterday  held the 10th Memorial Anniversary Prayer (Du’a) to honour him.

    The legacy of the trailblasing statesman was celebrated at his country home in Ogbonicha, Ofu Local Government Area.

     The solemn ceremony drew dignitaries, political leaders, religious leaders, community members, and associates.

    The Honourable Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, in his remarks, described his late father as a foundational figure whose visionary contributions remain deeply woven into the state’s history. He said a decade after his passing, the influence and ideals of Prince Abubakar Audu continue to shape the political and developmental landscape of Kogi State.

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    The Minister highlighted his father’s commitment to service, development, and the upliftment of the people.

    A statement by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Steel Development, Lizzy Okoji, quoted the Minister as saying  these values continue to inspire both the family and countless citizens across the state.

    He said: “I welcome you today on behalf of the entire Audu family as we honour our father, leader, mentor, and the person that laid the foundation of the state today. I bring greetings from the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, who has been so good to the Audu family.

    “I also express sincere appreciation to the Kogi State Government; the Executive Governor, His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo; the immediate past governor, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello; and members of the State Executive Council for their continued partnership with the family in honouring the legacy of a leader whose impact endures.”

    The Kogi State Deputy Governor, Elder Joel Salifu said the gathering was a powerful reminder that while some leaders leave office with only physical structures to show, truly great leaders like Prince Abubakar Audu are remembered for their enduring legacies,his imprint, vision, and name continue to resonate far beyond the boundaries of Kogi State.

    He said the memorial should inspire all Kogites to unite behind a shared purpose, reflecting one of the core values the late Prince Abubakar Audu championed throughout his lifetime.

    Special prayers were offered by Islamic clerics led by Sheik Imam Kasim for the repose of the late statesman’s soul and for continued peace, unity, and prosperity in Kogi State and Nigeria.

    Leading one of the special Qur’anic recitations at the memorial was the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland and Vice Chairman of the Kogi State Council of Chiefs, HRH Tijanni Anaje, who represented the Attah of Igalaland, HRH Matthew Opaluwa and led the traditional rulers to the ceremony.

    Among the dignitaries in attendance were the Senator representing Kogi East, Sen. Jibril Isah (Echocho); members of the Kogi State Executive Council, including the Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Local Government Affairs, Mr. Deedat Salami; Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo; Commissioner for Education, Mr. Wemi Jones; and the Commissioner for Justice. The Auditor-General of the State, Mr. Yusuf Okala, also joined other top officials, members of the Kogi State House of Assembly, and local government leaders at the ceremony.

    Royal fathers present included the Ejeh of Ofu, the Orego of Ogbonicha, among other traditional rulers who came to honour the memory of the late statesman.

    Prince Abubakar Audu the first civilian governor of the state passed away on November 22, 2015 at the age of 68 following his victory at the then just concluded elections. Prominent among his legacy project is the Prince Abubakar Audu University, a citadel of learning which has produced thousands of graduates and intellectuals from the state and beyond.

  • FG to revive Ajaokuta in three years – Minister

    FG to revive Ajaokuta in three years – Minister

    The Federal Government says it is determined to revive the Ajaokuta Steel Plant within the next three years.

    Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu who made the disclosure said the government would be creating a 10-year roadmap for the revival of the steel and metals industries, nonferrous metals industries in Nigeria.

    Audu said a part of that would involve giving out the Ajaokuta Steel complex to people who have the core competence to be able to get the job done.

    He said Ajaokuta has about 44 different production units or production plants within the 24,000 hectares in terms of the land area that occupies different aspects of Ajaokuta and the government could make it so the different aspects can be handled by different people with different core competencies.

    The Minister said this yesterday in Abuja at a press conference organised to intimate the media of the efforts to reposition the steel sector.

    His words, “Local production, and consumption of steel in Nigeria is actually in excess of 5 million metric tonnes. However, the local production is a very small fraction of the total amount that is consumed in Nigeria. Most of the steel that is produced locally is actually made from scrap metals as opposed to going through the production using all the natural resources including, iron ore, dolomite, cooking coal, limestone you know all the relevant raw materials.

    “So, the mandate that the President has given us is to do some homework to try and revive the industry. It is a difficult task but there are certain things that we plan to do over the several years to achieve this objective. Number one is, we want to create a 10-year roadmap for the revival of the steel and metals industries, non-ferrous metals industry in Nigeria.

    “In addition to that, we will also put together a three-year roadmap for the revival of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex, a part of what that would involve would be to concession the Ajaokuta Steel complex to people that have the core competence to be able to get the job done. Are they producing steel?

    “Ajaokuta has about 44 different production units or production plants within the 24,000 hectares in terms of the land area that occupies perhaps different aspects of Ajaokuta you know, maybe you know, different aspects can be handled by different people with different core competencies.

    “Well, part of what Mr. President has said in terms of the revival of Ajaokuta on the three-year roadmap is that we should use a collegiate approach for the revival and I think I’ve said this several times in the past. Two things that we’re looking to do on that collegiate approach to achieve some immediate success in the short, the revival of the light steel mill for the production of iron rods.

    “Number two, I’ve had several engagements with the Minister of State for Defence, who we are looking to partner with in terms of Ajaokuta Steel complex together with Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), in terms of military hardware and capabilities can be done. Part of the plan is to revive the engineering workshop to get it going to help us produce military hardware. It’s a lot of work but it’s something that Mr. President has given us his full support and the Federal government is determined to do those things.”

    Read Also: Tinubu approves committee on Ajaokuta Mill’s revival, others

    He added, “About the three-year plan for Ajaokuta and whether we should assume that it would start working, I think the short answer is yes. The three-year plan is to enable us to start production of some form of steel production in the next three years, so we should be able to get the light steel mill working, the engineering workshop working, we should be able to get some of the lines plants working and operating at near full capacity or full capacity.

    “Part of what we would also do within those three years is to concession it to a concessionaire that has the required skill set to be able to actually have liquid steel production coming out of blast points. Ideally, in a perfect scenario, that’s what we would like. And I suspect that the concession agreement to be worthwhile for the concessionaire would have to be a minimum of let’s say, 10 or 30 years, agreement where they would be able to recoup their capital.

    “And like I mentioned previously, based on the advice I’ve been provided with and based on some of the data that I’ve seen and the technical analyses that have been done, we would need between two to five billion US dollars to be able to revive this entire Ajaokuta Steel complex but certain things can be done in piecemeal before we resolve the entire issue with the plant. What we plan to do is to restart the Light Steel Mill (LSM) section, which will cost us about 35 billion naira to be able to produce 50,000 metric tonnes of iron rods, the raw materials that will be used for the production of the iron rods would be imported. So the billets would be imported at this first stage. And then the billets will be rolled into iron rods.

    “For now no decision has been made on the aspects of concessionaire for the steel, we need to do our homework. Maybe in a few months for now we need to go and visit the potential concessionaire, and see there are still plants. Do they have the capacity to be able to produce, should we go with the Russians that built the plant originally or should we concession it to another country?”

  • Committee identifies communication breakdown as reason for Kogi APC crisis

    Committee identifies communication breakdown as reason for Kogi APC crisis

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Fact-Finding and Reconciliation Committee on Kogi Crisis has blamed acrimony in the state’s chapter on communication breakdown.

    It said that the hitch in communication engendered the ruptured relationship among the party in the state, the government and the governor.

    Chairman of the committee, Chief Tony Momoh, stated this on Wednesday in Abuja, while speaking with newsmen after submitting the committee`s report to the party`s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

    He said that while the committee`s assignment lasted, it met three times with Gov. Yahaya Bello because the bulk of the issues; “ really stopped on his desk“.

    Momoh added that the committee also met with members of the House of Assembly and other relevant stakeholders in the state.

    He said that while everybody in the state accepted that Bello was its chief executive, issues on his style of governance were raised.

    According to him, lots of people testified on what the governor was alleged to have done.

    “We came to the conclusion that the problem of Kogi is absent of communication, miscommunication or even inadequate communication.

    “There was breakdown of communication and everybody was singing his own song and telling his own story, “ the Momoh said.

    He added that while the committee pleaded with all aggrieved party members in the state to be calm, it ensured that everybody that had a case was heard.

    He, however, said that while most aggrieved party members had their grouse against the governor, he also came up with his own defence.

    Momoh said that some of the identified problems in the state were skewed appointment against the party, non-payment of workers’ salaries and political reconciliation with late Abubakar Audu and James Faleki’s group.

    He said the exclusive membership registration which the governor was said to be doing without relating to the party`s leadership was also identified as a problem.

    Momoh said that also identified was poor state’s House of Assembly relations, dictatorial governance and corruption allegations and not to give anti-party activities during the elections.

    The committee chairman said that the party`s national headquarters complicity and poor stakeholders` consultations was also identified as an issue.

    He stressed that all identified issues were comprehensively discussed, adding that the committed had submitted its recommendations to the party`s leadership for scrutiny.

    This, he said, included five pages of executive briefs which summarised the recommendations and 300 pages of presentations.

    He maintained that the recommendation was a win win consensus and would be acceptable by all parties.

    “I can assure you that the recommendations we gave will be acceptable to all parties.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Momoh, was the former National Peter Chairman of the dissolved Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

    Members of the committee which was inaugurated on April 12, were earlier charged by the party`s leadership to carry on their personal prestige and integrity and undertake the assignment without fear or favour.

  • Supreme Court upholds Yahaya Bello’s election

    Supreme Court upholds Yahaya Bello’s election

    Yahaya Bello remains the elected governor of Kogi state, the Supreme Court ruled Tuesday, bringing to an end all the acrimonies around the election last year.

    The court which held all the nation on tenterhooks, while awaiting the judgement dismissed all the appeals filed by all the parties against Bello’s election last year.

    It dismissed the appeal by James Faleke, the deputy governorship candidate of Abubakar Audu, who died before the election result was announced and who was substituted in the supplementary election by Bello.

    Faleke contended that Audu had won the election and there was no need for the supplementary election. He argued further that as the joint holder of Audu’s ticket, he should be declared the winner of the election.

    But the justices did not agree with him.

    His appeal was dismissed for lacking in merit. The justices affirmed the decisions of the lower courts.

    The court also dismissed former Governor Idris Wada’s case against Bello.

    Also dismissed were appeals filed by the ADC and the Labour Party.

    The justices said reasons for all the failed applications would be given on Friday, the 30th of September, 2016.

    There were five appeals in all against the Court of Appeal rulings which upheld the election of Governor Bello.

    Audu of the All Progressives Congress died before the final announcement of results election conducted on November 21, 2015 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The election was declared inconclusive.

    The re-run held on December 5, 2015 saw the emergence of Bello who became the torch bearer of the party after the death of Audu.

    Alhaji Wada, who contested the election on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and Mr. Faleke had approached the Supreme Court in August challenging Mr. Bello’s victory at the Court of Appeal.

    The appellate court had upheld an earlier judgement in June by the Kogi State Governorship Election Tribunal, which gave victory to the governor.

    The tribunal in the judgment read by its chairman, Justice Halima Mohammed said Mr. Faleke’s petition lacked merit and therefore threw it out.

    The tribunal further held that the fact that INEC declared the first election inconclusive meant no winner had emerged.

    It also said that all votes belonged to political parties and not the candidate who contested on their platforms.

    It said Mr. Faleke had no locus standi to challenge Mr. Bello’s nomination by the APC to replace Mr. Audu as he (Audu) was not the governor-elect.

     

  • Police arraign Audu’s son

    The police on Thursday arraigned Mohammed Audu, the eldest son of former Kogi State governor, Abubakar Audu.

    The ex-governor’s son was arraigned for alleged armed robbery and attempted culpable homicide, among others, following a complaint by an uncle, Prince Yahaya Audu.

    Mohammed, who was arraigned at the Chief Magistrate Court II, Lokoja, was arrested on Wednesday night by the Special Anti- Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Kogi State police command.

    He was charged for criminal conspiracy, causing grievous hurt, mischief, armed robbery and attempted culpable homicide, contrary to sections 97(1), 248, 327, 298 and 229 of the Penal Code Law.

    The prosecuting police officer, Gabriel Otowu, told the court that the late politician’s son allegedly committed the offence on August 30 in the family house at Ogbonicha, Ofu local government area of the state.

  • Faleke fails to unseat Bello

    Faleke fails to unseat Bello

    The Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja Monday dismissed the petition James Faleke the running mate to the late governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abubakar Audu in the last governorship election in the state.

    Faleke had challenged the emergence of Yahaya Bello as the governor of the state and sought to be declared winner of the election on among other grounds, that his joint ticket with the late Audu won the election.

    Delivering the judgment of the three-man tribunal Monday, Justice Halima Mohammed held that Faleke’s petition lacked merit, the petitioner having failed to participate in the election to the end.

    The tribunal was of the view that the initial part of the election, in which Faleke participated as the running mate of the late Prince Audu Abubakar, was inconclusive and did not produce a winner.

    The tribunal held that the APC, as a political party, was legally empowered to nominate and sponsor a candidate for an election because the Constitution did not recognise an independent candidate.

    It further held that Faleke was without the requisite locus standi (the right to institute a suit in court) to challenge Bello’s victory because “he was never a governorship candidate in the election.”

    The tribunal further held that APC duly nominated and sponsored Bello as its candidate for the election and having originally nominating the late Prince Audu, the party was entitled to inherit the votes cast in the initial part of the election held on November 21, which INEC declared inconclusive.

    Before determining the main petition, the tribunal ruled on the preliminary objection by Bello. It upheld the objection and held that Faleke lacked legal capacity to file the petition, holding that the November 21 election which he claimed to have won was inconclusive as declared by INEC.

    The tribunal held that contrary to Faleke’s contention, the November 21 election was not conclusive and therefore, the right had not accrued to petitioner to step into the late Audu’s shoes going by the provision of section 181(1) and (2) of the Constitution.

    It noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission is the only body charged with the responsibility of declaring an election conclusive or inconclusive.

    “The provisions of Section 181 of the Constitution contemplate only situation where declaration has been made and the governor-elect and deputy-governor-elect have been returned.

    “It is hereby observed that the situation where the petitioner can step into the late Abubakar Audu’s shoes has not arisen in the instant case.

    “And there is no evidence before the tribunal that the petitioner had been declared deputy governor-elect.

    “Section 181 of the Constitution does not contemplate a situation when none of the candidates who participated in the election has been returned,” the tribunal said.

    While considering the main petition, the tribunal held that Faleke was never a governorship candidate of the APC at any stage of the election and did not participate in the primary leading to APC’s choice of its governorship candidate for the November 21 governorship.

    It added that the petitioner was never nominated by the APC as its governorship candidate for the December 6 supplementary poll.

    The tribunal further held that since Faleke was never a governorship candidate, he lacked the competence to present the petition before the tribunal by virtue of section 137(1) (a) of the Electoral Act.

    It also held that the issues contended by Faleke bordered on the power of a political party to nominate its candidate, a decision which Justice Mohammed ruled that the tribunal lacked jurisdiction to interfere with.

    The tribunal added that Faleke having not participated in the said primary, he lacked the locus standi to challenge Bello’s nomination by the party.

    It added that going by Supreme Court’s decision on supplementary election in the case of Peoples Democratic Party vs Rochas Okorocha, the votes polled on November 21 belonged to the various political parties thus, the APC had the right to replace its flag bearer upon Audu’s death.

    It also held that there was evidence that Bello participated in and emerged as the first runner-up in the primary from which the original governorship candidate of the party, the late Abubakar Audu, emerged as the party’s flag bearer.

    “It is a fact that the second respondent participated in the primary and came second in the primary.

    “It is equally a fact that the second respondent participated in the December 5, 2015 supplementary election.”

    The tribunal also dismissed Faleke’s contention that Bello was not qualified to run for the office of the Governor of Kogi State.

    It held that contrary to the petitioner’s argument, (Bello) fulfilled the conditions for qualification as contained in Section 177 of the Constitution, requiring that a candidate must be a member of a party, sponsored for the election by the party, a citizen of Nigeria, more than 35 years of age and educated up to the level of secondary school certificate or its equivalent.

    The tribunal faulted Faleke’s argument that Bello’s election was invalid as he contested the December 6 poll without a running mate.

    It held that contrary to Faleke’s argument, remained the deputy governorship candidate of the APC in the December 6 supplementary poll having failed to withdraw his candidacy as the running mate in the manner stipulated by law.

    It noted that rather than send his withdrawal letter to his party, Faleke erroneously send the letter through his lawyer to INEC.

    The tribunal will Tuesday deliver judgment in the petition by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in the election, Idris Wada, who is also seeking to unseat Bello.

  • Kogi to immortalize Audu

    Kogi to immortalize Audu

    Governor of Kogi State, Capt. Idris Wada Thursday announced plans to name an “edifice in the state” after one of his former predecessors and All Progressives Congress Candidate (APC)  in the November 21, 2015 Kogi governorship election, late Prince Audu Abubakar.

    Audu, the first democratically elected governor of Kogi, died barely 24 hours after voting, and on the edge of being declared winner.

    Wada during an address on his stewardship Thursday in Lokoja, said he will announce the edifice to be named after Audu, before handing over to the newly elected governor, on January 27.

  • Abubakar Audu: Of loyalty and personal interest

    SIR: Since the unfortunate demise of Kogi State and Igala Kingdom’s most celebrated and decorated politician and onetime governor of the State, Prince Abubakar Audu, I deliberately chose not to add to the deluge of manifestly twisted, ignorantly pedestrian and hate-induced analyses packaged by power mongers and self-seeking elements masquerading as true defenders of the interest of the masses.

    I know for a fact that, late Audu, if given the opportunity to stage a comeback to this world would not want to identify with some characters who often fall over themselves to celebrate, eulogise or adulate him as their hero, especially on the cyberspace. Hardly was his death fully confirmed that these characters began to plot their games on the next line of action.

    Well, with his demise, I wasn’t really bothered with the issue of who would succeed him since nature abhors vacuum. But I am particularly worried by the rather callous disposition of certain characters who often pride themselves as Prince Audu’s disciples and diehard supporters who couldn’t wait for the remains of Audu to be properly committed to mother earth before they severed whatever relationship they ever had with him.

    We were told of how they eulogised late Audu and even threatened to jump into his grave when prayers were offered for his soul. But all that ended the very moment the late Aduoja was laid to rest in his family compound. Expectedly, the family members and REAL mourners were left to mourn the dead, while the pseudo mourners congregated elsewhere to plot their game.

    As you read through these lines, these same characters who swore to kill anyone who dared to malign late Abubakar Audu or make any attempt to seize power from his camp have since jumped ship and are now drumming support for a man they so hated, maligned and called names – Governor-elect, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

    We all know the hidden intentions behind their actions. It is all about what they stand to benefit from the about-to-be-sworn in government.

    I took out time to read through the list of the Yahaya Bello Transition Committee as well as its sub-committees. I was indeed shocked by the names of individuals I found on it. I saw the names of a few self-acclaimed unrepentant, unapologetic and diehard supporters of late Prince Audu on the list. The same Senator Dino Melaye who once vowed never to recognise Yahaya Bello as Governor-Elect now heads the transition committee. Hon. Benjamin Ikani, a man who owes his political achievements to Prince Audu’s political astuteness is to serve as Secretary of the committee. I remembered watching Hon. Ikani vowed never to identify with the Yahaya Bello camp.

    Comrade Odaudu Joel Minister is another very character who consistently sang the praises of late Audu in the build up to the last election. He has since abandoned the late Audu/Faleke struggle. His name featured in media sub-committee of the Yahaya Bello transition committee. He has been making fruitless efforts to explain his reasons for his action.

    The emergence of Bello as the governor-Elect of Kogi state further affirms the lifetime truth that power belongs to God and He gives it to anyone he so desires.

     

    • Abdullahi Yunusa,

    Imane, Kogi State.

  • Abubakar Audu: The passing of a great mind

    Abubakar Audu: The passing of a great mind

    Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked, leadership is defined by results not attributes – Peter Drucker

    The above profound statement from a great writer perhaps best fits the personae of Prince Abubakar Audu, the first and second civilian Governor of Kogi State who passed on to the great beyond on Sunday, November 22, 2015.

    As governor of a relatively backward state, Prince Abubakar Audu brought out the state from its relative obscurity into limelight. He did not only ensure that he laid a solid foundation for social and infrastructural development, he did so with satorial elegance–a brand that stood him out from his peers till he breathed his last.

    Audu had an amazingly large cult followership in his lifetime. He also had some diehard critics who would never see anything good in him. While many deified him, other hated him with passion. Indeed, the Prince of Ogbonicha, adoringly called Adoja (servant of the people) by his people, was unarguably an enigma who bestrode Kogi state politics like a colossus.

    Born on 27th October, 1947 to the family of His Royal Highness, the late Pa Audu Oyidi, Orego Attah of Igalaland and the Paramount Ruler of Ogbonicha–Alloma in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Prince Audu began his career as a junior worker with First Bank and with a dint of hard work caught the fancy of his bosses who promoted him to officer’s cadre in no time.

    An ambitious prince who would not be content with just an A’ level certificate, Audu proceeded to London between 1975 and 1978 where he studied Banking and Personnel Management, obtaining professional qualification as a Certified Secretary and later bagging the prestigious fellowship of the Association of international Accountants of London.

    He later capped his academic laurels with fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Industrial Administration of Nigeria. In all, Audu spent a total of 25 years with First Bank, formerly Standard Bank, where he distinguished himself in different capacities at management levels. Among others, he broke record with his appointment as the first black senior management staff of Standard Chartered Bank of London and New York as well as being the highest paid black man in the bank in both the United Kingdom and the United States of America (USA).

    Audu’s rich credentials soon fascinated the government of the old Benue State in 1986, which appointed him Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning.

    He later returned to First Bank as General Manager and was appointed Executive Director of FSB International Bank Plc. before he was drafted into the world of politics.

    In 1992, Prince Audu contested for governorship under the platform of National Republican convention (NRC), and against the run of political calculation of that time that the Social Democratic Party (SDP) would run away with victory, he won the election.

    Audu’s government was to run for 22 months after which the military terminated the administration. He however recorded monumental achievements within the period, especially in the area of roads, education, housing, electricity and healthcare services, among others.

    With these achievements, it did not take long before the electorate voted him back to power again on January 9, 1999 following the restoration of democracy by the military through the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) and was sworn-in on 29th May, 1999 as the second executive governor of Kogi State.

    One of the major highlights of the first tenure of Prince Audu was the establishment of three unique housing schemes for public officers consisting of no less that 1,500 housing units in Lokoja, He also embarked on about 80 electrification schemes, 50 water projects, transformation of Lokoja township roads with Asphalt, street lights and beautifully designed roundabouts.

    Aside these, the action governor established Kogi State Polytechnic, television station, Radio Kogi, The Graphic newspaper, transformation of the colonial office of Lord Lugard into an ultra-modern Government House Complex, construction of shopping arcade complex and construction of office blocks for ministries, among others.

    During his second stint as governor, the visionary Audu wasted no time in sourcing for prospective investors to harness the numerous mineral resources lying waste in the state.

    The effort resulted in the establishment of the biggest cement factory in Africa, Obajana cement factory, now Dangote Cement Factory. Other major milestones were the establishment of Kogi State University Anyigba, construction of the five-star Confluence Beach Hotel; 200 units housing estate, Eye Specialist Hospital, 350 borehole schemes, 300 Kilometres of township roads, mass transit buses and several rural electrification projects, among others.

    Speaking on the shocking death of Prince Audu, his running mate, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke, described him as “a great man and founder of modern Kogi who put in his best in developing the state into what it is now”. He stated that the late Audu died at a time when the downtrodden masses of Kogi needed him most to get them out of the clutches of maladministration and underdevelopment.

    For Audu’s son, Mohammed, he was “a father’s father; a hard-working dad who all through his life built bridges across cultural and political divides; an amazing administrator whose love for Kogi was unparalleled.”

    On his part, President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki said Audu died “a dogged and visionary leader” while Musa Wada said “Prince Audu was endowed with vision, energy, intellect, eloquence and humanity… He was a gentle man in all the finer senses of the word. Maybe not so much a gentleman in terms of style and deportment. He was a bit too flamboyant on that score… deceit, intrigue and treachery were alien to his nature.”

    Indeed, for this writer, Prince Audu was a man of taste who caused ripples with his satorially designed flowing gown which remained his brand till he died. He was also quick to discover talents when he saw one. This writer recalled an episode as a journalist plying his trade with TELL Magazine in Lagos when Prince Audu sent emissaries to him in 1993 to return to Kogi  State to help turn the state’s Ministry of Information around as a commissioner. Though this writer declined the offer owing to the fact that he was still a bit naïve about politics and was deep in civil society activities, the offer touched a chord in his heart – The man knew how to fetch talents to help him drive his dreams.

    Prince Audu was an enigma in life and in death. It is very unfortunate that in an inexplicable twist of faith, he died while on his way to victory in the November 21, 2015 governorship election in Kogi State. For many, it was a very bitter pill to swallow that the Adoja himself was gone. Such was the situation that the rumour of his resurrection reverberated round the whole country like wildfire. The masses would simply not believe that their “emancipator, political benefactor and political leader” was gone.

    Described as the “Best Governor” by the Media Tour Team between1999 – 2003, Prince Audu was indeed a great leader and a great brand that bestrode Kogi like a colossus.

    For many, nothing short of declaring the November 21, 2015 governorship election conclusive would serve as a befitting gift to the late Audu who toiled so hard that Kogi may progress.

    Adieu, Audu!

    •Hon. Duro Meseko, a former Member of the House of Representatives, is Director, Media, Audu/Faleke Campaign Organisation.

  • Kogi: Faleke files petition at tribunal

    Kogi: Faleke files petition at tribunal

    Mr. James Faleke, running mate to late Abubakar Audu of All Progressives Congress in Nov. 21 governorship poll in Kogi, has filed a petition at the State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.

    Faleke, accompanied by Mohammed Audu, son of Abubakar Audu, and lawyers, submitted the petition to the clerk of the tribunal at about 12.20 p.m. in Lokoja on Monday

    Hundreds of party members and supporters converged on the state High Court premises, venue of the tribunal, to witness the event.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), however, reports that the Secretary of the tribunal, Mr Akanji Akinlabi, who received the petition, said the contents were yet to become public.

    NAN reports that Faleke is challenging the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC), decision which declared the election inconclusive.

    Faleke told newsmen that he was confident justice would be done in the matter pointing out that he did not join his party, the APC as a respondent in the suit.

    He said he challenged INEC’s decision in declaring the election inconclusive when the result showed that by all standards the election was concluded and won by the APC ticket of Audu and Faleke.

    Mohammed told newsmen that his support for Faleke’s decision to challenge INEC’S decision was in line with the decision of elders and family of his late father.