Prince Abubakar Audu was finally buried at about 1.50pm on Monday. Contrary to the wish and obvious inordinate expectations of the mammoth crowd of mourners who gathered in his palatial residence, he never arose as a “prophet” brought in to pray for his resurrection had predicted calling for four hours of fervent prayers to God.
The fervent prayers of the prayer warriors did not bring the ex-governor back to life. So, the tears and wailings of mourners took over the supplications to God for his resurrection. After Imams offered prayers, sand was poured in to refill the grave amidst tears and loud wailings and uncontolled outpourings of sorrows.
Earlier in mid-morning, tension gripped Ogbonicha, the home of the late Prince Abubakar Audu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in the Saturday election in Kogi State, following the delay in the burial of the politician who died Sunday evening.
Audu’s burial was initially fixed for 10am Monday, a situation which made friends and relatives besiege his palatial home early in the day.
But after waiting endlessly without the burial taking place, angry mourners started demanding his corpse be brought out.
To forestall the breakdown of law and order, security personnel blocked the main entrance to the late politician’s home.
Blocking the entrance did not deter the angry relations as many of them forced their way into the compound.
“Some of the relations banged repeatedly on the door of the room where the corpse of the late APC candidate is kept awaiting burial,” said the reporter.
At a point, a cleric was taken into the house to pray and possibly revive the late politician.
Our reporter said, “Interesting twist as prophet seeks to pray for Audu’s corpse and bring him back to life. Security inside and family members would have none of it but angry youths break the door open
“The prayer man has successfully been forcefully taken in by the wish of the crowd and they have all joined in the prayers for the resurrection of Audu with ‘Holy Ghost fire!’ renting the air as well as shouts of ‘Allahu Akbar!’
”Dino Melaye and some family members came out through the back door to calm the angry crowd. While they are largely engaged in fervent prayers, others are weeping loudly by the door.
”As men and women of faith engage in fervent prayers to bring Audu back to life, others are digging his grave in one end of the compound.”
His burial has now been fixed for 2.00pm.
Audu died a few hours before the election was declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He had the highest number of votes ahead of 21 other candidates in the election, including the incumbent, Governor Idris Wada, who ran on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
PDP expresses shock over Prince Audu’s death
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it is shocked by the news of the sudden death of the APC candidate in last Saturday’s Kogi state governorship election, Prince Abubakar Audu.
The National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh in a statement said, “At this critical moment, the PDP refrains from comments on the conduct of the election. That is not important now. What is important at this point is the sanctity of human life.
“Our deepest thoughts and prayers go to the family of Prince Abubakar Audu and indeed, the APC fold.
“On this note, the Acting National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, charges all PDP members in Kogi and across the nation to keep Prince Audu, his family and loved ones in their prayers, as we mourn with them and the people of Kogi State over this monumental loss.”
-PremiumTimes