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Tag: Late James Ocholi

  • Ministerial nominee: Kogi APC wants Ocheni replaced

    Ministerial nominee: Kogi APC wants Ocheni replaced

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Kogi State Chapter has petitioned the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and other party elders calling for the replacement of the state’s ministerial nominee, Steven Ocheni with that of Alhj. Usman Naibi Maiyaga.

    In a four-page-petition released Thursday and signed by the State Chairman of the party, Alhj. Haddy Ametuo and 40 other party chieftains appealed to the Senate President to right the wrong done to Maiyaga, alleging that his name was wrongful substituted and replaced with that of Steven Ocheni as replacement for Late James Ocholi.

    “With utmost respect Sir, we the undersigned Executive Members of All Progressives Congress (APC), Kogi State chapter hereby officially write you over the malicious and wrongful substitution and replacement of Alhaji Idris M. Usman with the name of Prof. Steven Ocheni as the ministerial nominee representing Kogi State,” a statement in Abuja on Tuesday said.

    The statement said the state party unanimously distanced itself from Prof. Ocheni, stating that it was the collective resolve of the state party after the death of Ocholi for Maiyaga to be nominated after wide range consultations.

    According to the statement, after nominating Maiyaga which was supposed to be followed by Senate screening was replaced by Ocheni who was not even a party member.

    “We made further inquiries to that effect, we noticed that a few politicians from the state that are of course leading voices for our country’s democracy are indeed behind the unprofessional replacement of the people’s choice and mandate” the party said.

    The party in the statement condemned the nomination of Ocheni which it described as imposition even when he is missing in Kogi political firmament.

    While maintaining that Ocheni is not an APC card carry member, the party jointly backed Maiyaga for the exalted position, describing him as a good party man and grassroots moblizer who had been with them from CPC to APC.

    “Having been a founder/convener of kogi chapter of ACN, CPC AND now APC, 2007 governorship flag-bearer for ACN, 2011 Gubernatorial flag-bearer for CPC and 2015 Gubernatorial contender for APC kogi State who was later substituted by late Abubakar Audu also in 2015 presidential primary/main election coordinator of Buhari support in kogi state.

    “We choose him base on his credentials being a grass root disposition and capacity to preserve kogi state party structure came to limelight during the last presidential election in Kogi where we secure resounding victory for his excellency, president Muhammadu Buhari.”

     

  • Ocholi’s remains arrive Lokoja High Court premises

    Ocholi’s remains arrive Lokoja High Court premises

    The body of the late Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Barr. James Ocholi (SAN), arrived Lokoja, Kogi State Thursday as part of the final burial rites for the deceased erudite lawyer, who died in a ghastly motor accident along with his wife and a son, along the Kaduna-Abuja highway.

    The body which arrived at the Kogi State High Court complex at exactly 11.30am had the governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello and the Chief Judge, Justice Nasir Ajanah, at the head of mourners to receive the body and that of his late wife and son.

    The motor convoy that brought their remains into the premises was led by three ambulances belonging to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

  • FG, NLC bid farewell to Ocholi

    FG, NLC bid farewell to Ocholi

    The Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday extolled the qualities of the late Minister of State for Labour and Employment, James Ocholi (SAN).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on March 6, the minister, his wife and son died in a motor accident along Kaduna/Abuja Express road.

    Sen. Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment, while speaking at the valedictory court session held in his honour at the National Industrial Court, Abuja described Ocholi’s death as painful.

    Ngige said that the legacies left behind by the late minister were good ones and would forever be remembered.

    “I have known him before we started working together; we were together in the party APC.

    “He was our deputy legal adviser and was also a member of the merger committee which I also belong.

    “I have also known him as a lawyer and working together in the Ministry of Labour and Employment was a home coming to both of us.

    “We were already friends and we have to pilot the affairs of the ministry together.

    “Our main goal in the ministry was to bring change that will benefit the Nigerian workers and the society as a whole,’’ he said.

    He said Ocholi departure would not be forgotten in a hurry.

    Speaking, Mr Ayba Wabba, NLC President, said the late minister had left his indelible footprints in the sands of time.

    Wabba described Ocholi as one of Nigeria’s brightest and finest minds who was cut down alongside his family members when his star was in the ascendancy.

    “It is with a grief-stricken heart that I perform, arguably, one of the most difficult tasks as the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress.

    “As Ocholi’s death is an unspeakable tragedy that numb the senses and he left no one in doubt that he was a trusted ally of Labour.

    “Indeed, Ocholi’s knowledge of labour laws, industrial relations practice and his eagerness to work with social partners in the labour circuit raised hope for the labour movement,’’ he said.

    The president also described Ocholi as a legal luminary, an urbane, a highly cultivated person and an invaluable asset in government-labour relations.
    “What a shame death has robbed us of this priceless and irreplaceable gem. How can we come to terms with this? It is ever so difficult.

    “The least we can do in memory of this illustrious son is to imbibe his noble qualities. We should also go a step further to immortalise his name after him a worthy edifice or institution.
    “Fare thee well, my friend and my brother, Mr James Ocholi, (SAN),’’ Wabba added.

  • Funeral for late Ocholi commences Wednesday

    Funeral for late Ocholi commences Wednesday

    The funeral programme for late James Ocholi (SAN), Minister of State for Labour and Employment, his wife, Blessing and son, Joshua, will commence on Wednesday.

    This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by Mr Samuel Olowookere, Deputy Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

    It said the activities will commence with a special court session at the National Industrial Court and would be followed by a service of songs at the National Christian Centre, both in Abuja.

    The statement said the bodies would leave the National Hospital, Abuja on Thursday for another special court session at Kogi State High Court, Lokoja.

    It added that the remains would depart Lokoja for Abocho, Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi state for Christian wake, tributes, praise worship and testimonies.

    According to the statement, they will lie in state at his country home with funeral service slated for 10 a.m. at the L.G.E.A Primary School on Friday.

    The statement said the trio would be committed to mother earth immediately after the funeral service in their country home.

    Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir Lawal, is the Chairman of the Burial Planning Committee.

  • Ocholi’s death a personal loss – Oyegun

    Ocholi’s death a personal loss – Oyegun

    • Surviving Children Pay Tributes

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun on Tuesday said the death of the late Minister of State for Labour and Employment, James Ocholi (SAN) was a “personal loss” to him.

    Odigie-Oyegun said this during a condolence visit to the family of the late Ocholi who died in a ghastly car accident with his wife and son along Kaduna-Abuja Expressway on Sunday, March 6, 2016.

    The APC National Chairman was accompanied to the late minister’s Abuja residence by the party’s Deputy National Chairman (South), Engr. Segun Oni; National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni and APC National Treasurer, Alhaji Bala Mohammed Gwagwarwa

    Odigie-Oyegun spoke to journalists after meeting with the late minister’s family: “We are here on a condolence visit to the family of James Ocholi who was also the former interim Deputy Legal Adviser to the party whom I had course to consult with often whose thought processes and mine were very very similar.

    “It was for me an issue of very deep sadness and made even graver by the fact that his wife and a grown up son also passed on in the same incident. So for me it is a very personal loss. And from the point of view of the party, he was ever a dedicated believer in change, dedicated party man because you could call on him anytime.

    “He was always in the office over one issue or the other even though he did not have a permanent office table.  He was very very dedicated to the course of his people and the people of Kogi State. And at every point I needed help, explanation, or whatever, he was there to provide it, to give me the issues behind. So really, one mourns with sincere, very sincere, deepest form of sorrow even considering the circumstances in which all these have happened and that he has four children who are now fatherless, motherless but like I said, God will be their father, God will be their mother and God will provide sufficiently for them at every stage of their lives.

    On the APC plans for the late minister, Odigie-Oyegun said: “Honestly, that will be something we will deal with. It is not something at this stage to give to the press but he was a deserving party member and the party will turn out and honour him in the way hierarchy deserves.”

    Earlier, two surviving children of the late Minister spoke to the APC senior delegation.

    Daughter – Ojone Ocholi

    Thank you for coming and taken out time out of your busy schedule to be here. If we hadn’t an idea of who he was before, the responses we have gotten from everyone who has been here has given us a clearer picture of whom our father was. We are indeed proud and we take courage from that to move forward. We hope that we keep the spirit of who he was, and who our mother was and the lesson and virtues they upheld. We hope to be able to carry on from here.

    Son – Aaron Ocholi
    We appreciate your presence here today. You have said all these things about my dad and it is evident that his heart was for service, to serve his nation, to serve his people and even people whom he felt could not stand for themselves.

    I can only pray the grace on the men here present because the men in this room right now in one way or the other determines the tides and the future of this nation. One way or the other as a party currently in government, these are men of utmost importance and I can only ask and pray for grace, the grace to be the best you could be to your people, to the country, to even people around you,  to lead this nation to greater height make it better. If just like him, everyone will realize that it is not just about me but that there is a greater picture because I know that that is how he lived his life. To me he was selfless. There were many times I will sit down with him while he was making phone calls and at the end of the phone call, he will drop the phone and I will know that he was about to make a serious decision. Many times he conceded a lot of things for the greater good and I pray the grace of God to be on all of you to be able to make such decisions for the greater good. Thank you all for coming