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Tag: mourns

  • Ajimobi mourns, commiserates with Sun newspaper

    The oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has commiserated with The Sun newspaper family and Nigerian journalists on the sudden death of the Vice Chairman of the newspaper, Mr. Dimgba Igwe.

    He made this known on yesterday in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo.

    According to the governor, the death of the veteran journalist was shocking and heart-rending.

    “Igwe was one of the beacons of the journalism profession. He was one of the leading lights of the profession. That a man of peace like him could be visited by the violence of the road is one of the contradictions of life,” the governor said.

    He recalled Igwe’s “deep, incisive and fluid” commentaries on the back page of The Sun and said that he had made remarkable contributions to the cause of journalism in Nigeria, stating that the country would miss him greatly.

    While commiserating with the Publisher of the Sun, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu and the Sun family, Ajimobi urged them to take solace in what he called the uncommon intellectual strides of the late Igwe and take his death as an act of God.

    “He came to the world for the purpose of enriching journalism, discourses at the public sphere and he did this very remarkably. He left when the ovation was loudest. We should all bother less about him as he has fulfilled his destiny but bother more about what marks we are making in our various endeavours,” he said.

  • Mark mourns Aziza

    Mark mourns Aziza

    Senate President David Mark mourned yesterday the  first Military Governor of Kebbi State, General Patrick Aziza, who died on Saturday.

    He was 67.

    He described the late Gen. Aziza as a dependable colleague, a fine officer and a gentleman.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, the Senate President noted that the late Gen. Aziza was among the best and fertile minds the military ever produced.

    He said the late Gen. Aziza contributed immensely to the development of the country, adding that the former military officer excelled in all the assignments he handled.

    The Senate President said even in the trying times in the nation’s history, the late Gen. Aziza was among the military officers who stood firmly for peace and unity.

    Mark said: “He was one of our best. He stood for the unity and indivisibility of Nigeria. He demonstrated unwavering commitment to the nation. He was a patriot to the core.”

    The Senate President said even in retirement, the late Gen. Aziza’s people recognised his sterling virtues when they elected him the president general of the Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU) in Delta State. He held the position until his death.

    Mark condoled with the government and people of Delta State, especially the bereaved family. He prayed Almighty God to grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.

  • Lagos Assembly mourns Aturu

    Lagos Assembly mourns Aturu

    Lagos State House of Assembly at its plenary on Thursaday  paid tribute to the late lawyer and human rights activist, Bamidele Aturu, who died Wednesday,  July 9, describing him as an uncommon personality that fought for  emancipation of the masses.

    Muyiwa Jimoh, representing Apapa, brought the news of Aturu’s death to his colleagues, saying: “Aturu was a pride not only to Nigeria, but also to Africa.  At the age of 19, he was a youth leader always at the forefront of fighting for the good of others.”

    The lawmaker said although the dogged fighter was an indigene of Akoko in Ondo State, he had lived all his life in Lagos, adding that “his death came as a rude shock to us. He died shortly after slumping last night.”

    He explained that Aturu’s recognition was far beyond Nigeria. “He was a member of the legal team of the International Labour Organization (ILO). I think with all these, he deserves tribute from this hallow chamber.”

    Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji  described the death of the frontline lawyer as a national calamity, saying: “The sudden demise of one of Nigeria’s brightest legal practitioners and a civil rights activist, Mr. Bamidele  Aturu , on  Wednesday, is indeed a national calamity. It is quite sad and highly unfortunate that our nation has yet again lost one of her best legal minds to the cold hands of death at a time when more of such minds are needed to help rescue our country from ruins.”

    He  further said: “It is not only sad, but highly unfortunate. It is on record for instance that  Bamidele Aturu plotted a very unique path of practice for himself since becoming a legal luminary, by always aligning with and fighting  for the poor masses of our country, free of charge.  One would have wished that such a great soul would be spared by the Almighty Creator to live long enough to be able to fight the course of the downtrodden in our country, for a longer period.”

    While lending his voice, Sanai Agunbiade, representing Ikorodu I, pointed out that the death of the activist became more saddening because “he did not live to eat the fruits of his labour having died at the age of 49.”

    Agunbiade explained that Aturu was to be distinguished among other activists because he was regarded as “gentle tiger” having fought wholeheartedly for the masses.

    While Deputy Whip, Rotimi Abiru, described the death as a great loss to the judiciary and the nation at large, adding that his exit would create a huge gap in the judicial system at this crucial time of our democratic practice.

    According to him, the late barrister was a dogged fighter, honest and professional to the core. “He was the voice of the voiceless and a man who always stood by the truth. The nation will miss him; the masses will miss him”, Abiru said.

    A minute silence was thereafter observed in his honour.

    …Okotie too

    The Chairman, Rev. Chris Okotie, the National Executive Committee and members of the Fresh Democratic Party  have commiserated with the wife, children and family of the upright, forthright and  human rights lawyer and activist, Mr. Bamidele Aturu who died Wednesday, July 9.

    The described his death as  a big blow to the struggle for the entrenchment of rule of law in Nigeria.

    They said: “Aturu identified with and stood his good causes and was a champion of the oppressed. He was iconoclastic till his death.

    “We pray that the Lord will grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss.”

     

  • Tambuwal mourns Dikko

    Tambuwal mourns Dikko

    House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal has expressed sadness over the death of Second Republic Transport Minister, Alhaji Umaru Dikko.

    In a statement yesterday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, the Speaker described the late Dikko as a committed democrat who rendered selfless service to his country.

    Tambuwal noted that despite the seemingly negative public perception about him, Dikko remained committed to the ideals of good governance, peaceful co-existence and mutual respect for all persons.

    “Until he died in London, Dikko believed in Nigeria and its ability to attain greatness. In his life, there are lessons for today’s politicians to learn from. He was a team player who promoted inclusiveness in decision-making.

    “As we mourn his passage, may Almighty Allah give his family, friends and associates the fortitude to bear the loss,” Tambuwal said.

  • Soyinka mourns writer Maya

    Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka yesterday mourned the late American literary giant, Maya Angelou.

    In a statement, Prof. Soyinka said: “Maya’s ‘AFRICA’ was more than a mere literary metaphor and reference point – it went beyond race identification. To obtain a glimmering of what the continent meant to her, one would have to think in terms of a mystic nostalgia. That could be because she was so markedly black-regal both in bearing and pronouncements, she made one feel that, in some distant time past, she had been a queen – a philosopher queen – over some part of the black continent. If indeed she was, Maya was the down-to-earth kind who felt her subjects keenly, a philosopher queen without the aloofness. It took just one lunch meeting with her, and Queen Angelou tightened her sash like a market mamma, mobilized emergency forces, and personally led the charge to beat down the doors of a lethargic – and/or ambiguous – US administration during the Sanni Abacha murderous dictatorship. She kept her finger on the nation’s pulse throughout a people’s travails.

    “Long before that however, what a personal memory to cherish!  I learnt the following at an American university where I had gone to lecture, and Maya confirmed the details to me after we had finally met.  Publishers of a prestigious literary journal, the college was also sponsor of a bi-annual international literary prize. She had nominated me for that prize but, finally, it was a German writer who carried it off – I think it was Gunther Grass, but am no longer sure. Well, at the formal event of the announcement, Maya Angelou was so disappointed, she burst into tears. Our sole contact till then was through our writing.

    “During reception afterwards, when she was being teased/consoled or whatever, she said something like: No, it’s all right, I know he’ll win a bigger one. A year later, I was accorded the Nobel Prize.

  • Censors Board mourns Amaka Igwe

    Censors Board mourns Amaka Igwe

    For obvious reason, more tributes have continued to pour in for the late Nollywood filmmaker and director, Mrs. Amaka Igwe, who died of asthma last week.

    Like other stakeholders in the filmmaking industry in Nigeria, the National Film and Video Censors Board( NFVCB) has said the late Amaka Igwe will be remembered for her pioneering role in Nollywood.

    In a release, the Board said: “Checkmate, the television soap which she created, had the roads emptied on the evening belt when it was broadcast. It was later to become the acting nursery, which supplied Nollywood many of its early stars. Without resting on her oars, the late motion picture matriarch went ahead with other epochal interventions by setting up production studio, creating award-winning television series, founding BOBTv and growing it to become an industry benchmark with her husband.

    “As we mourn the passing on of this creative Amazon, we pray God to console her family and comfort all for whom this loss is heartfelt.”

  • Jonathan mourns, orders thorough probe of crash

    Jonathan mourns, orders thorough probe of crash

    President Goodluck Jonathan said yesterday that he received the news of the airplane crash in Lagos with great shock and sadness.

    He extended condolences to all families who lost members in the crash and the government and people of Ondo State who were plunged into sorrow while preparing to bury their former governor.

    A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said: “The President feels and shares the grief and pain of the Agagu family as they grapple with the further loss of beloved relatives and associates so soon after losing their husband, father and mentor.”

    “He prays that God Almighty will comfort the Agagu family, as well as their relatives and friends, and grant them the divine grace they will undoubtedly require to overcome the trauma of this most trying time.”

    “President Jonathan views the plane crash as most unfortunate and regrettable, even with the concerted efforts of the Federal Government to enhance aviation safety in the country.

    He, therefore, ordered a thorough investigation of the crash by all relevant agencies with a view to determining the cause and taking further actions, as may become necessary.

    The President also summoned Aviation Minister Stella Oduah to the Presidential Villa following the crash. The call came as she prepared to brief the media on the tragic incident yesterday.

    The briefing was suspended as Oduah said: “I am sorry to have come late but I will tell you that I just received a call from the Villa and I need to attend to it.”

    In the Minister’s already prepared speech made available to reporters by her Special Assistant (Media), Joe Obi,

    Mrs Oduah said the number of persons aboard the aircraft as at time of departure was 20, including the crew.

    She added that the Fire Service Department, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) immediately drafted a team of rescuers at the crash and were able to stop the inferno.

    She said: “The control tower immediately activated the crash alarm of the airport as the first step of the emergency response procedure. The first responder immediately proceeded to the crash site.

    “The FAAN fire service department, ambulances and other relevant emergency apparatus successfully extinguished the fire within 2 minutes despite the surging crowd.”

    Oduah said relevant authorities had started to contact families of the victims stressing that information about identities of the victims would be made available later.

    She said the Black Box of the aircraft had been located and already in possession of the Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIB).

    According to her, further activities which involve identification of the cause of crash would be jointly conducted by the AIB and Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) as she commiserated with families of the deceased.

    “While it is too early to determine the cause of the accident, we urge the public to be patient while the investigation progresses. I assure the public that the investigation will be thorough and that our airspace remains safe and secure,” Oduah added.

     

  • Keshi mourns ‘General’ Oliha

    Keshi mourns ‘General’ Oliha

    Head Coach of the team, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi meanwhile has described the death of ex-Super Eagles midfielder, Thompson Oliha as sad and shocking.

    Reacting to his passage in Abuja, Keshi said he was one of the few players that was dedicated to the national team, adding that the nation lost him too early.

    “I call him ‘the General’ in our playing days because he was simply fantastic and very dedicated, very versatile too. I know we’ll all go some day but I think we lost Oliha too early and I pray God will grant his soul eternal rest and his family the fortitude to bear the loss”.

  • Horror killing: Father mourns victims

    The father of 22-year-old Chidiebele Mmadubuko has said his son’s body can be buried in the evil forest.

    Chidiebele killed two people, including his mother, and injured five others, including his father, before allegedly killing himself in Oraukwu, Amanuke Community in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    Mmadubuko said he was sad because he has two bodies to bury.

    He said if it was discovered that Chidiebele killed himself, the people will not allow him to be buried in the community.

    Reliving his ordeal, he said: “I attended a retreat in our church which started on Monday and ended on Friday. Chidiebele participated in the retreat held at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Amanuke.

    “The following day, Chidiebele had a parish council meeting, which ended around 4.30pm.

    “In the evening, we went to visit a friend. I returned home, took my dinner and went straight to bed.

    “At 11pm, my daughter came to wake me up, asking me to leave the house that Chidiebele had started behaving like a mad person.

    “I came out of the house in my boxers and went to the market square, where I saw a young boy lying on the ground, shouting for help.

    “As I made to carry him, I felt a machete go down on my head. That is all I know till I woke up to hear the sad news.

    “In fact, I feel it is beyond the natural, but I will wait upon the Lord to reveal it.”

    Prophet Ramas Asuzu, the overseer of Liberation of Absolute God, believes that some cleansing need to be performed by the family and community.

    “If the family does not do the traditional cleansing, there will be sudden deaths not only in the family but in the whole community.

    “It is only a man who wields “Ofo and Otosi” deities, which symbolise the truth and the symbol of authority that can do the cleansing.

    “If you bury such person within the community, the spirit of suicide will be wandering about because there will be no rest.

    “It will cause accidents, knock at the doors, cause miscarriages and other havoc.”

  • Mark mourns Tinubu’s mother

    Mark mourns Tinubu’s mother

    Senate President David Mark yesterday commiserated with the former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over the death of his mother, Alhaja Abibat Mogaji.

    Mark, in a condolence message to the government and people of Lagos State, described the late Alhaja Mogaji as an “ideal mother”, who contributed her quota to the peace and development of the society.

    He noted that the late matriarch was a great business woman and leader, whose philanthropic gesture cut across ethnic and religious boundaries.

    He said the late Alhaja Mogaji would be remembered for her industry and leadership quality, adding that she was “a great leader, who brought dignity and honour to administration and purposeful management in commerce and industry in Lagos and its environs.

    “We shall miss her wise counsel. We shall miss her care and sense of humour.”

    The Senate President, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, in Abuja also told the government and people of Lagos State, especially the bereaved family, to take solace that their late mother lived an “eventful and accomplished life worthy of emulation.”