President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed shock over the news of the late Prince Abubakar Audu’s death, saying he was personally devastated by the sad demise.
“We are obviously devastated at the loss,” Buhari said.
Audu, who died on Sunday was the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the inconclusive Kogi State Governorship election held last Saturday.
Buhari is currently attending the third Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Tehran, Iran.
In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the President described the late Abubakar Audu as a talented politician, a loving family head and a respected community leader.
“He was immensely courageous,” he said.
The statement added: “President Buhari condoles with the family of the late governor, the government and people of Kogi state as well as all our party members, men and women who stood with Audu in his bid return as governor. He ran as the favourite in the election as the early results have clearly shown.”
President Buhari prayed to Allah to repose the soul of Governor Audu, and to give his family, the people of Kogi State and the APC members all over Nigeria the fortitude to bear this loss.
APC mourns Audu, says, it will act within law
All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that it will act within the confines of the rule of law in responding to the inconclusiveness of the Kogi State governorship election held on Saturday.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the election inconclusive following the rule that the number of votes cancelled must not be more than the difference between the two front-runners’ votes. Incidentally, the APC’s candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu was the leading candidate who died immediately after the election result.
It is believed that Audu’s death immediately had prompted a constitutional controversy as the Constitution did not envisage the present circumstances.
But for the meantime, APC said it is still studying the scenario, hoping to take a decision on it soon.
In a statement by its acting National Publicity Secretary, Mai Mala Buni, the party said its response to the matter would be based on the Constitution.
“On INEC’s position that the November 21, 2015 governorship poll in Kogi State was inconclusive, APC is studying the declaration of the Returning Officer, Prof. Emmanuel Kucha, Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, based on Section M, Paragraph 4 (Page 22) of INEC Approved Guidelines and Regulations for the Conduct of the 2015 General Elections.
“APC believes in the rule of law, strict adherence to 1999 Constitution and Electoral Act 2010.
“Our government was a product of the rule of law. We have absolute faith in the nation’s law and we will not in any manner undermine the law. Our observations and position will be within the laws of the land.
“The situation in Kogi State is a test case for the rule of law and our growing democracy. APC is committed to its pledge to ensure a sustainable democracy in the country”, it said.
The party also mourned the passage of Audu, describing him as a star and democrat.
While commiserating with the deceased family, the party said it would not abandon its candidate even in death.
APC also appealed to the people of the state and indeed its supporters to remain calm in the face of the ill-development.
The statement partly reads: “The All Progressives Congress (APC) sadly mourns the death of its governorship candidate in Kogi State, His Excellency, Prince Abubakar Audu. He was certainly one of our stars, a democrat par excellence, a development-oriented leader and a beacon for the liberation of Kogi State from its apparent decay. He was a Prince of hope, a symbol of peace and an apostle of unity and reintegration of Kogi State.
“We commiserate with his family and the great people of Kogi State for having a strong belief in Abubakar Audu’s capacity to redeem the state.
“The demise of Prince Abubakar Audu has no doubt created a big vacuum in Kogi State and APC, but we take solace in the fact that God gives, God takes. He might have physically transited but he will forever be spiritually and politically relevant not only in Kogi State but in Nigeria.
“We appeal to the people of the state to see Audu’s death as an act of God. There should be no recourse to lawlessness or vindictiveness in whatever form. The only honour we can do Prince Abubakar Audu is to remain peaceful and resolve to be undaunted in preserving the adorable ideals he lived for. It was evident to all that he ran a good race, he played his part well and he earned a rare rating as an exemplary leader.
“We will not abandon Prince Abubakar Audu even in death because his legacies are timeless, his virtues can withstand all seasons and his vision remains immortal.
“APC urges its members and supporters in Kogi Stare and nationwide not to allow their spirit to be dampened by the sudden passage of the great beyond of Prince Abubakar Audu. Rather, the party should be united in mourning and be encouraged to effect the desired change in Kogi State through the ballot anytime, any day.”
In a similar development, the party’s deputy national publicity secretary, Mr. Timi Frank, in a statement on Monday said APC shall explore all choices and act within the law to find alternatives to Audu.
“We are exploring all known choices and alternatives to us in line with our party’s dictates and respect for the rule of law as is in conformity with laid down laws and rules of our country.
“The past 24 hours have been one that gloom, pain, shock and grief best describe following the death of strongman of Kogi Politics, a dependable party man and our governorship candidate in last Saturday’s election, Prince Abubakar Audu, who was clearly headed for victory having led with the most votes.
“To say that we are shocked and dumbfounded at Audu’s death is to scratch our pains on the surface as the Kogi Prince typified what a real democrat radiates. A politician who chose to remain in opposition after losing his governorship in 2003 despite the intimidations against him, but rather chose to see the nation get its deserved change in leadership”, Frank said.
Audu’s death, rude shock — Oshiomhole
Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has described the death of Prince Abubakar Audu, the All Progressives Congress candidate 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 in the polls, is a sad reminder of 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.
Okorocha mourns
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 in the election held at the weekend”.
Chief Okorocha made his feelings known Monday in a 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 of 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 extended his heartfelt condolences, on behalf of his family and the entire people of Imo State, to President Muhammadu Buhari, the APC National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, the people of Kogi State, and those left behind to mourn the departed gentleman.
Abdulfatah Ahmed: Death is painful
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 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 being re-elected as the governor of Kogi State, going by the results of the election declared so far by INEC.
“It is however noteworthy that the political history of Kogi State will be incomplete without a chapter on the contributions of the late Abubakar Audu to the democratic and infrastructural development of Kogi state,” Ahmed said.
Dr Ahmed noted that the 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.
Lagos Assembly’s Oshun mourns
Similarly, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly and chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts for State Moshood Oshun, has described the death of former Governor Abubakar Audu of Kogi State as a rude shock that is very difficult to contain and a huge loss to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to him, “It is a personal loss to me; the former Governor Audu had a lot of experiences that young politicians had continued to tap into for great success.
“Our dear party saw him as one who would make us proud and he did during the election. He showed he had a grasp and mastery of the political environment in Kogi winning 16 local government areas with his running mate, Hon. James Faleke.
“This tragedy will hardly be forgotten especially when it came at a time we would have joined him and Hon. Faleke in celebrating a worthy success,” Oshun said.
Recalling the process to winning a party ticket as well as the cumbersome campaign embarked upon by the duo of Audu and Faleke, Oshun said it would have been a worthy fight if the election was declared in favour of duo “instead of this tragedy that now stares us in the face and of which we cannot reverse.”
Oshun then commiserated with the National Leader who put in huge sacrifice during the electioneering, the party hierarchy and its leadership for thisterrible loss and just wish we could turn back the hand of time.
-Vanguard