ARISE IGALA MAGAZINE - ISSUE 28

EXCLUSIVE EDITION

ISSN: 2141-7423 ISSUE 28 NIG. N1000 USA $10.00 UK £5.00 NOVEMBER - DECEMBER, 2015

Igala,

Don’t Cry For Me... tion DAN EJIH ership Ques o Yahaya Bell im H e s gbali Immortali Anthony a ad The Igala Le

LOSSUS EXIT OF A CO gend. I Will WINGS Audu Is A Le I POLITICAL S OG K ND A E ANC IGALA DOMIN UNMASKING C e l e b r a t e

I n s p i r e

C h a l l e n g e

“…To the Igala people, weep not; the ravaging cloud shall soon be over, the sun no sooner shall the mountain touch.

The sun will rise again tomorrow.”

Barr. Dan Ejih

2

Arise Igala-Issue 28

ADOJA THE GREAT

GOES HOME

Arise Igala-Issue 28

3

THE ROYAL QUOTES

HRM, DR. IDAKWO

AMEH OBONI II ATA IGALA Agabaidu, Ata Igala and Chairman, Kogi State Council of Chiefs.

“

Though, we are diverse in culture, language and ethnicity, we have one common destiny as a nation …we are sailing through culture to national unity, peace and development!”

“

The quotation above is part of His Majesty’s Speech at the Maiden Annual ARISE IGALA Leadership Awards/Lectures 2014 held at Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Abuja on Saturday, March 29, 2014.

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Arise Igala-Issue 28

EXCLUSIVE EDITION

ISSN: 2141-7423 ISSUE 28 NIG. N1000 USA $10.00 UK £5.00 NOVEMBER - DECEMBER, 2015

Igala,

Don’t Cry For Me...

LEADERSHIP

EJIH QUESTION DAN

SSUS THE IGALA YAHAYA BELLO EXIT OF A COLO RTALISE HIM AGBALI GS ANTHONY ND. I WILL IMMO AUDU IS A LEGE POLITICAL SWIN CE AND KOGI IGALA DOMINAN UNMASKING C E L E B R A T E

I N S P I R E

C H A L L E N G E

GRAND PATRON His Royal Majesty DR. IDAKWO MICHAEL AMEH OBONI Agabaidu, Ata Igala & Chairman, Kogi State Council of Chiefs.

FOUNDER/PUBLISHER ONOJA JAMES OKPANACHI President/CEO, Onoja Dreams Network Limited Managing Editor Emmanuel Nathan Oguche Online Editor Idakwo Oguche Columnists Ojochide Yusuf-Nathan Emmanuel Nelson Arome Pst. Livinus Husseini Okpe Mallam Mohhammed Atojoko Contributors Idibia Ojabo Muhammed Nasirdeen Lawal (Eleojo Mama) Moses Abimaje David Usman Yakubu PHOTO PARTNERS De Famous Studio | JT Digital World | Ottagab Voice & Vision PRODUCTION ARISE IGALA MAGAZINE (ISSN: 2141-7423) is published by ONOJA DREAMS NETWORK LIMITED (RC 868974), ABUJA: C29, MIB Plaza, First Avenue, Gwarinpa, F.C.T. | LOKOJA: C/O NUJ Press Centre, Lokoja. +234 (0)803 698 0602, (0)805 663 0751, (0)803 968 1501 Website: www.ariseigala.com, Twitter: @ariseigala, Facebook: ARISE IGALA Magazine Email: ariseigala@gmail.com, ariseigala.sales@gmail.com, ariseigala.opinion@gmail.com Copyright (c) 2010-2015 Onoja Dreams Network Limited

VISION To inspire a generational change that will give birth to a new breed of Igala people in the face of globalization thereby changing perspectives on selves as we consciously bring out the beauty in our people

MISSION To be (and remain) the most informative, educative, entertaining, challenging, inspiring and authentic source of information on the past and current issues of Igala Kingdom and her people as the authoritative voice and image maker of Igala race via publications and media activities.

MANDATE Our mandate is to Celebrate, Inspire and Challenge Igala sons and daughters at home and abroad into positive ventures for the benefit of mankind.

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Igala,

Don’t Cry For Me...

EXIT OF A COLOSSUS The Igala Leadership Question

CONTENTS

REGULARS

Audu Is A Legend: I Will Immortalise Him - Yahaya Bello

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24

ROYAL QUOTES

>

PUBLISHER’S DESK

>

FROM THE ARCHIVE

>

EDITORIAL

>

MEMORY LANE

>

BURIAL

>

THE 3RD DAY FIDAU PRAYER

>

COMMUNITY

>

THE 8RD DAY FIDAU PRAYER FOCUS

> >

4 9 10 10 11 28 37 41 44 50

We invite comments and request that they be civil and on-topic. We do not moderate or assume any responsibility for views. The views in this publication are not sacrosanct. Readers have right to reply. All photographs in ARISE IGALA are copyright of the magazine and may not be reproduced, copied or used in any form without written permission from the publisher.

Arise Igala-Issue 28

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FROM THE ARCHIVE

PRINCE ABUBAKAR AUDU On the Red Carpet with Makolo Thompson Jnr. at the maiden edition of the annual ARISE IGALA Leadership Awards/Lectures on Saturday, March 29, 2014 at Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Abuja where he received two awards that night; ARISE IGALA MAN of the YEAR (2014) and ARISE IGALA Leadership Award respectively.

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Arise Igala-Issue 28

PUBLISHER’S DESK

Igala, Don’t Cry For Me ONOJA J. OKPANACHI PUBLISHER/CHIEF EDITOR

Are you still crying?

D

ry your tears and watch. There are interesting episodes of dramas for you to watch.

Can you just imagine the after-life if you eventually pass out the last breath in you today?

Then ask yourself some vital questions; how will your affairs be treated by those who may be so close to you while alive. Think, think and think deeply again. If you can’t get the answers right away then you must watch carefully all the dramas following the transfiguration of the people’s prince.

The demise of Prince Abubakar Audu opened new pages in the life of Nigeria, Kogi state and Igalaland respectively. His death is very painful yet filled with so many lessons that if one cries for too long the real lesson therein would be missed. Yes, this is one common thing that

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region and religion.

To the Igala nation, Audu’s death calls for great reflection on the issue of leadership in the land. The land is blessed with so many intellectuals of international repute, wealthy men and women et al but hardly do they come together for the benefit of all. Today, elder statesmanship is mostly along political divides so my leader may not necessary be your leader; pure anti-Igala attitude that must be arrested now. Therefore, there’s no better time to return to the drawing board than now. Now is the time.

Finally, we must return to our roots, the very basics.

We must stop the cry and sue for peace in the state immediately. Yesterday is gone, today is going and tomorrow is coming so when tomorrow comes how would we want it to meet us?

follows the death of great men.

To Nigeria as a nation, her laws will be affected forever as Audu’s death put to task lawyers, judges, commentators, analysts, politicians, electoral umpires and even the common man on the street as they beg for interpretations and implications of his death at the time it occurred. With quality efforts, our laws would be revisited again for good. Audu’s death is the reason this time.

To Kogi state, there is an automatic rearrangement of political structures whichever way the pendulum swings, central or west. Audu’s death made it possible. For the moment, it may seems a big challenge but with time many will realize that the youths may not need to wait till they are old to take leadership positions. It is indeed beyond ethnicity, Arise!

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EDITORIAL EDITORIAL

Heroes Don’t Die

T

hey are always there from the beginning, giving their best for the cause they believe in and in the process distinguishing themselves and thereby standing tall among others. Most times they go against the popular order, they do the extra-ordinaries and even strange things.

So, the results emanating from their acts always make the difference.

These distinct acts of the ordinary people turned heroes keep them on a different cadre of life. Even when they breathe no more, their memories linger because of the legacies they leave behind and so events have always shown that heroes don’t die, they live on.

However, the most unfortunate thing in this part of the world is how the living keep the memories of our heroes past. Most times, there are no serious-conscious commitment to keep the memories of these people alive either by documenting their records, building monuments in their honour or renaming vital institutions after them.

And, in some cases that these are even done, they come on board when such heroes would have passed on to other side of existence making it looks like until one is dead, it’s a crime to be celebrated.

Bringing this situation home and relating it to the late sage, Prince Abubakar Audu, the Kogi State House of Assembly recently moved a motion on the floor of house to immortalize him by renaming the state university after him. Remember, this is not the first time such attempt would be made. The first time it was even executed but was later overturned but I have this conviction that it would sail through this time because the hero in question is dead. Yes, it would because it seems like a sin to have a living hero in this part of the world. Heroes would be celebrated and really appreciated when they are dead and no more with us and this goes to confirm the seeming “unacceptable culture” to celebrate distinguished people when alive.

On this note, our attitude about appreciation of people who made and are making sacrifices at the different levels of their life and in their own ways must be improved upon because the truth remain that heroes don’t die.

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MEMORY LANE

ADOJA THE GREAT

MEMORY LANE - ADOJA LAST DAYS ON EARTH

November, 2015 - Prince Abubakar Audu out for the Ofu Governorship Rally

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MEMORY LANE

November 21, 2015 - Prince Abubakar Audu cast his vote in the Kogi state governorship poll at Ogbonicha

November 21, 2015 - Prince Abubakar Audu responding to questions from the press after casting bhis vote at his polling unit in Ogbonicha

November, 2015 - Prince Abubakar Audu with HE, Alh. Atiku Abubakar, fmr. Vice President who was the Chaired the Fundaraising Dinner at Transcorp

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MEMORY LANE

November, 2015 - Prince Abubakar Audu with HRH, Agaba-Idu, Ohimege (Igu), Koton Karfe

November, 2015 - Prince Abubakar Audu with HRH, Ejeh Ofu

November, 2015 - Prince Abubakar Audu with HRH, Ochogu of Ogugu Land

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MEMORY LANE

November, 2015 - Prince Abubakar Audu with HRH, Ohi of Egbanyi, Ajaokuta

November, 2015 - Prince Abubakar Audu with HRH, Ojogba of Ife, Omala

November, 2015 - Prince Abubakar Audu with HRH, Onu Ajaokuta

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MEMORY LANE

November, 2015 - Prince Abubakar Audu with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at Okene Rally

October, 2015 - Alh. Musa Idris (Oando) in a hanshake with Prince Abubakar Audu at the VIP of the Confluence Statdium, Lokoja

October, 2015 - Day Echocho and Hon. Mohammed Ibrahim Idris decamped to APC at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja

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MEMORY LANE

October, 2015 - L-R; Dr. Tim Nda Diche, Barr.

Halima Alfa, Hon Mohammed Idris, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke, Prince Abubakar Audu and Alh Jibrin Isah

October, 2015 Prince Abubakar Audu with Ejeh Ankpa

October, 2015 Prince Abubakar Audu with HE, Abubakar Badaru, the Executive Governor of Jigawa state at his Lokoja residence

16

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MEMORY LANE

October, 2015 Prince Abubakar Audu with HRH, Ejeh Dekina

October, 2015 Prince Abubakar Audu with HRH, Onu Egume

October, 2015 Prince Abubakar Audu with HRM, Agabaidu, Ata Igala, Ameh Oboni II

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MEMORY LANE

October, 2015 Prince Abubakar Audu with HRM, Obaro of Kabba

October, 2015 Prince Abubakar Audu with HRM, Ohinoyi of Ebira Land

September, 2015 Alh. Haddy Ametuo, APC State Chairman congratulating Prince for emerging victorious at the APC Governorship Primary Election

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MEMORY LANE

September, 2015 - Comr. Daniel Isa (Prof) having a brief talk with Prince at the meeting where the State Campaign was inaugurated

September, 2015 Day Prince officially presents Hon. James Abiodun Faleke to the Lokoja audinece as his running mate

September, 2015 - Going to receive some guests at the hall in Ogbonicha, Prince and Amb. Isaac Onuh catching fun on the move

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MEMORY LANE

September, 2015 - Hon. Benjamin Ikani in a warm handshake with Prince after a meeting at Prince residence in Lokoja

September, 2015 - Hon. Faleke in a warm handshake with Prince after introducing him to the audinece in Lokoja

September, 2015 - Prince Abubakar Audu cracking some jokes with Morandy Attah at his Ogbonicha residence

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MEMORY LANE

September, 2015 - Prince Abubakar Audu humbly opening car door for Alh. Isahaka to board

September, 2015 - Prince Abubakar Audu in a warm handshake with Abraham Ahmed at Ogbonicha

September, 2015 - Prince Abubakar Audu paying attention to a woman in need at his residence in Ogbonicha

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MEMORY LANE

September, 2015 - Prince Abubakar Audu with Alh. Ishaka when the former came visiting at Ogbonicha

September, 2015 - Prince at home with his guests at Ogbonicha

September, 2015 - Prince cracking some jokes with the delegates led

by Hon. S.A.S. at Ogbonicha

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MEMORY LANE

September, 2015 - Prince in a group photograph with a community delegates led by Elder Ubolo Itodo Okpanachi at Ogbonicha

September, 2015 - Prince with some Ankpa youth group in a solidarity visit

September, 2015 - Rt. Hon. Clarence Olafemi, Hon Faleke and Prince having one on one during the presentation meeting in Lokoja

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SPECIAL

EXIT OF A COLOSSUS The Igala Leadership Question

By BARR. DAN EJIH

S

unday, the 22nd November, 2015, was the type of day William Shakespeare described in his epic drama work; Macbeth, as “foul is fair, and fair is foul”. Something tragic happened in Igala kingdom, shaken the entire foundation and fabrics of Igala leadership; exit of a colossus, the Adoja of Igala land, His Excellency Prince Abubakar Audu who was also the Governorship candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kogi State Gubernatorial election, 2015. It was a black Sunday for the Igala nation and people of Igala extraction.

For APC and Kogi State, it was ill-fated election. For Nigeria state, it was the beginning of constitutional crisis in the polity.

Prince Audu’s departure was a shock, a thunder bolt striking the epicenter of Igala leadership.

Our concern here is the effect of the “ungodly departure” leaving the owners of the Adoja at cross road. The truth is that beyond the Governorship mandate, many hoped that typical of the patriotic courage in him, he will reposition the “Anuku Ayegba” from the present leadership lacuna and comatose. The truth is that the fulcrum of our unity; Igala Cultural Development Association (ICDA), Ojuju Agbadufu Igala (OIA) and Ebulejonu are in comatose, probably on the verge of extinction. Many of us thought

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that Audu will rehabilitate these institutions; foster our unity and thereby, the dignity of the Igala man traumatized and traded for gold.

Adoja was a treasure; friends and foes (may be political foes) knew he was a rare gem, an allrounder. This is not praises, but the truth which pricks the mind, the conscience of all those with a living type. May be the man’s flaw was to have dared to stand for us, daring to canvass for our common good. That Prince Audu was taken as wife and concubine alike is the question the Igala man will continually asked himself! Albeit, he has made his mark; left a legacy, a golden heritage which will, remain subject of research for sustainable development of Igala people and land.

Well, the Igala project has now become a “bona vacantia” thrusts on our laps. We are free to parry or embrace, pray that

“

the former will not be. Every situation produces its own leadership kind. According to Warren G. Bennie, “Leadership is the capacity to translate vision to reality”. We earnestly need another Adoja, who may not be tall or strong enough to take the glorious traditional salutation; edeee, but take his place at the sentry, watching over the Igala people from internal and external aggression. The prince was indeed a watch man.

What we need is a collegiatetype leadership that will map out a blue print, with set target, all embracing, mobilizing in tandem with individual capacity and comparative advantage in role executive. We can then build in internal assessment mechanism to review our progression.

It seems we have come a long way with yeoman leaderships; entrenched by the fact that, many elected to be onlookers

What we need is a collegiate-type leadership that will map out a blue print, with set target, all embracing, mobilizing in tandem with individual capacity and comparative advantage in role executive. We can then build in internal assessment mechanism to review our progression

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SPECIAL

“

there is need for people of conscience and integrity to call the shot now, and now! This venture must be separated from politics.

and arm chair critics. We sacrificed statesmen like Hon. Stephen Achema, Hon. John Urah Ajibili, Professor Francis Idachaba, Hon. Umoru Adejoh Egbolimajo, Chief Isah Edime and now Prince Abubakar Audu!

Enough of these casualties, how long shall they kill our prophets!

We can sustain their legacies by deliberately strengthening our institutions.

We have reprimanded too long many of our own who found themselves suddenly at the centre of decision and instinctively played script that are not populist appealing.

Conceding that many of such scripts turned out to be parochial and wrongful, that was the best in the circumstances since there was no extant road map or blue print in the first place.

The starting point is that there should be a call to parley, at Ojuju Igala; for true confession, reconciliation and truce. Two, it is expedient to return to our ancient value of rewarding deserved individuals. As a people, we have witnessed the Igala people drifting from the epicenter of our national polity, the political

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arena, public service and all.

We watched the rubbishing of our best by competing interests in the comity of ethnic nationalities called Nigeria. The Igala people will not forget the painful intrigue that hounded Architect Chief Gabriel Aduku from the Federal Executive Council in the immediate past Central Government. Those who masterminded it had a field day.

There was no public protest, not even the Igala people in the ruling party reacted in any way. Yet we know the profile of Chief Aduku as a man of integrity esteemed professional competence and more still the Igala ambassador who spearheaded the Census exercise on behalf of the Igala nation. Many Igala sons and daughters have suffered and are suffering similar fate unjustly but left to leak their own wounds.

Three, there is need for people of conscience and integrity to call the shot now, and now! This venture must be separated from politics. The meddling of politics into our institutions brought us to this critical stage, where the centre does not hold. Recall

that the mines that amputated the ICDA were hidden in the forest of politics. Politics should be the cart, not the horse in our domestic affairs. We need Trustees who are insulated from the dirty game, fair enough to call spade a spade in our choice of leadership in situation of logjam.

Dearth of leadership hunts us all as a people and a nation. God in his infinite mercy used Prince Abubakar Audu as it were as the link-man between us and the APC led Central Government.

His exit at dawn poses a serious gap! Can the Igala nation pause and ponder! We may need to deliberately ordain emissaries to enter the arena for our good.

It is trite that Prince Audu’s death will trigger-off new political configuration at the micro and macro level in Igala land and Kogi State in general.

The masses of Igala people and the Bassa of Kogi East believed the man was a patriot, a statesman committed to development and sustainable legacy. There are those within the Kogi central (Ebira) and Kogi West (Okun) who saw in him the hope and restoration of Kogi State from the hegemony of the mercantilist political clique that have contrived to plunder the state. To these persons, the basic consideration was ability not primordial sentiments. It is worthwhile to sustain this fellowship beyond Adoja.

The tripod on which the Igala nation stands: Idah, Dekina and Ankpa must appreciate that the death of the political colossus is an ungodly eclipse in the sky of its political development. If the Adojah lived on; it would have been a balance political 25

SPECIAL

“

All we need is a synergy of team leadership of men of integrity from the tripod of Igala nation. I dare to suggest a parley for a discourse on the way forward

arrangement; Senator from Ankpa Minister from Dekina while Idah will have gotten governorship. We missed what would have been a golden era as a people. Albeit,a new structure can emerge from this rubbles.

All we need is a synergy of team leadership of men of integrity from the tripod of Igala nation.

I dare to suggest a parley for a discourse on the way forward.

Prince Audu’s demise has negative consequence on the Igala unity. It has created confusion amongst our political elites and the fabrics of the Igala people generally. But urgent need is expedient to stem the confusion before it degenerates from incident of name calling to threatening the unity of Igala race. The masses of Igala people and our friends are aggrieved with certain of us for taken political joke beyond normal level. Why should the Igala man see politics and partisan politics as religion? We must set a borderline between partisan political interest and the Igala national interest; the Igala project. Enough of nonsense parochial interests devouring our nation!

We earnestly need a centre for 26

a rebirth; a renaissance that will define our national interest or put in a more succinct way, lay down such in a form of charter, vision and strategy at realising the broad objective of the Igala nation.

The younger generation have waited too long for “the Prince Audu generation” that have only made martyrs of our prophets Steven Achema John Urah Ajibili, professor Idachaba, Isah Edime and now Prince Audu. Our patients are running out; a deliberate decisive step had to be taken. The pain is that nobody is asking why! Did we not perceive that our beloved died in similar circumstances!

Enwu nubi ke?

We demand of the survivors of this to give us a script now?

We know we have untainted conscience in people like Hon. Nuhu Audu, Arch. Gabriel Aduku, Robert Audu and many more. You must summon the new generation in the likes of Profesor Emma Idegu, Professor Sam Egwu,Dr. Simeon Oyigu,Dr. Victor Adoji, etc who have made marks in their love for the People and Land, with the mandate to reorganize the Igala project.

Come out now before the Igala

nation is wiped out.

There must be a novel think by our academia, bureaucrats, political and traditional institutions to take the Igala nation to the next level. We must explore our immediate socio cultural arena for leadership direction, as the foremost pan Africanist and Ghanaian Black Star; Kwame Nkrumar said Power should not be entrusted in the hands of those who do not know their own history.

Academic institutions in Igala land, particularly the Kogi State University should establish centre for Historical Research and Documentation of Igala Heritage, dedicate same as memorial to Prince Abubakar Audu, an archetype leader and patriot. In this way, we can elicit the love and commitment of the new generation for our land and people.

The whole chain of controversy that trails Prince Audu’s death is because of the gap inIgala leadership. He was the embodiment of the leadership, a community based type that reflects the yearnings of our people. We can immortalize the Prince Audu legacy by allowing the Igala-blood in us to perpetuate his legacies. In that way Prince Audu and other martyrs of our struggle can rest in peace.

To the Igala people, weep not; the ravaging cloud shall soon be over, the sun no sooner shall the mountain touch. The sun will rise again tomorrow.

The Author is a cofounder, Pioneer and Council member of OJUJU AGBADUFU IGALA, OAI for and on behalf of Ojuju Council.

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CONDOLENCE

IGALA LEADERSHIP FORUM, LOKOJA

Tribute to the People’s Prince

A true leader he was.

A pragmatic leader whose practice of politics is purely people driven and eventually became an umbrella for many like minds who are concerned about the total wellbeing of their people.

Prince Abubakar Audu The ADOJA Attah Igala Ede!!!

You were a determined leader You believed strongly in the ideals of people first and gave it your best at all cost You never settled for less You always went for best as quality is your natural trademark Your achievements were challenge to many But, you never stopped at going for more always The ADOJA Attah Igala You were a rallying point A great pillar that Kogi state will miss greatly The vacuum you left is near impossible to fill You preached peace and harmony among the people you govern May the peace continue to reign in your absence May we witness great development as other leaders after you strive to meet your records Should we continue, there wouldn’t be space enough to take our thoughts of you So, we pray God to grant your family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss May your political allies find reasons to continue the race

Rest In Peace.

Signed: Mr. Emmanuel Edibo President

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Prince Idoko Daniel Ogacheko Secretary General

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THE BURIAL

Monday, November 23, 2015

Mohammed Audu (3rd from right) and Hon. James Abiodun Faleke and other APC stalwarts as they get ready to bring out Prince body for interment

Still in the shock mood, Comr. Daniel Isa (m), DG, Audu-Faleke Campaign Council and other Honourables

Alh. Ibrahim Isa Atodo, Comr. Isa Daniel and Mohammed Audu

Hon. Faleke and Comr.

Daniel Isa still weeping as the body of Prince is about to head for its final resting place 28

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THE BURIAL

THE BURIAL

Finally, body of ADOJA THE GREAT comes out for burial in his country home, Ogbonicha

Late Prince bossom friend, HE, Lucky Ibinedion and Arc. Yomi Awoniyi looked on

Hon. Mohaamed Ibrahim Idris and Hon. Ismaila Ina still speechless

Just like a dream to all...

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THE BURIAL

THE BURIAL

Sen. Dino Melaye, Otunba, Mohammed Audu still on the matter

The wailing crowd at the back of the house in Ogbonicha waiting for the burial

The wailing crowd waiting

The crowd as they watch the body of Late Prince Abubakar Audu being moved on for prayers before interment 30

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THE BURIAL

THE BURIAL

And, here is the remain of the people’s Prince recieving prayers before interment

All praying for his soul to be granted eternal rest in Aljana

Prayers for the rest of Prince Abubakar Audu’s soul

Now, the body moved for interment Arise Igala-Issue 28

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THE BURIAL

Prince bossom friend, Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso (m) and Alh. Abubakar Badaru, Jigawa state governor (l) at the graveside as they watch in awe.

And, the remain is here

Finally, the body being lowered and buried according to Islamic rites

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And, man shall surely return to his Creator

Dust to Dust - let every living remember that one day he (she) shall return to where he comes from Arise Igala-Issue 28

LONELY TIMES

With NELSON AROME EMMANUEL enskynelson@yahoo.com 08057755844

Prince Abubakar Audu: The Chord Binding The Broom of Change in Kogi State

By Emmanuel Arome and Theophilus Emmanuel

L

ike a helpless child threading hopelessly on the path to the lion’s den, like a starless night with no hope of a new dawn.; like one entangled in a loop of ichekpa path, like the thirsty longing for a drop for his throat so patched; then out of the blue you came to redefine our course and right the wrongs. You were the kiss Kogi needed to break the spell, the moment anticipated to change our course off hell. But while awaiting the dawn of a new day, we were suddenly caught in an endless eclipse, now lost between night and day. Our Niger flown past its shores and got the nation swallowed up in confusion and gore; the tale filled the wise with the reality of their foolishness and defiled our existing law. Benue suddenly unable to meet her loins, cold in tropical oven of expectations flakes; icy fire, our body sunk!

It was an impending march unto hope before the morning bleach; wondering how come a sudden darkness after the morning crow. A jiffy to cross the river, reach out for our lost hope then black clothes?

The banner of victory in gutter of muddy, sorrowful mystery; history soaked in mud at the expense of the light in the dark tunnel! The musicians had last night sharpened their throats and the hunters hung their bows in anticipation of the new dawn. Farmers were set to spare their grains on the field to the birds to join the unveiling of the rising sunset; women left their sucklings to partake and children jumped in welcome

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of the return of our lost hope. But way too fast the hand of the clock notified, in a jiffy, hot tongues got bitten and warped in cold shame of victorious defeat. O, how swift, O how swift, a millisecond, so slow for a large forest to be burnt down. Games suddenly exposed, vulnerable to foes, all locked down.

The hand that made our State a pride to roaring lions and lioness; a dwelling for wolves and sheep; the one flower who caught every sight, the smile in the middle of tears and sorrow; the pride of all Kogi has, the hope all Kogi will have; Prince of Ogbonicha, banners in world’s angles, a son born to set records and who died with records that will take a zillion stream of tears to break. Suddenly the binding chord got broken, and our disunity exposed; then the resurging fire got quenched, now smoke! ‘Unity’ clearly spoke in voice of chaos and violence, change spoke in the voice of what has been and democracy in the voice of one man! Men’s selfishness and greed now made explicit, the once oneness suddenly differentiated and our limitlessness punctuated. Clearly, you are the chord that bound the broom the change preached, the charm of our beauty and the unison of our diverse voices.

Who ever thought the day will get darkened at midday, who will ever fathom an untold story of the Prince of Niger? How could my pen ever write a sad tale of a sung hero, how could the night sparkles be quenched in the middle of jubilation; how sad, how can we sing this song though unimaginable you yet live on? We celebrate your legacy, Prince of the Niger; we celebrate a great life. Rest on, the great change of Kogi, take your rest, Adoja. Rest in peace, Prince Abubakar Audu.

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INTERVIEW

Audu Is A Legend: I Will Immortalise Him Yahaya Bello

F

ollowing the supplementary election in Kogi state on Saturday, December 5, 2015, Alhaji Yahaya Bello who replaced Prince Abubakar Audu on the All Progressive Congress (APC) platform was on Sunday, December 6, 2015 declared winner of the Kogi state election as APC led the poll with a total number of 247, 752 votes. The People’s Democratic Party which came next in the exercise scored a total of 204,877 votes.

Alhaji Yahaya Bello popularly known as Fair Plus is a young, dynamic and energetic gentle man who turned 40 years June 18, 2015. He responded to some of the questions posed to him

by ARISE IGALA Magazine after his declaration as GovernorElect by the Independent National Electoral Commission in Lokoja. Below are some excerpts from the chat.

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INTERVIEW

On the just concluded Kogi State Governorship Election

First, may the gentle soul of our dear leader, Prince Abubakar Audu rest in peace. May Almighty Allah grant his soul paradise. We cannot begin the talk of our victory as All Progressive Congress (APC) faithful in the just concluded election without giving honour and due recognition to all the efforts of the late Kogi state’s political legend, Audu. He has contributed his quota and eventually led the party to the point he did and so, I must not disappoint him, Kogites and the party for reposing the onus on me to continue in the assignment of changing the state positively in all ramifications as we face a new direction.

It will be important to note at this point that the victory of APC is a victory for all. It’s not about Yahaya Bello. It’s about Kogites; Igala, Ebira, Okun, Oworo, Nupe, Kakanda, Hausa and all. In fact, residents in the state, visitors and passersby should

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celebrate as the real change is about to be witnessed.

Also, within our party, the victory calls for quick reconciliation amongst us and so people with various point of views will be brought together for the purpose of progress and the change that our dear state so much need. Therefore, all efforts and participation in the build up to the election are well recognized. But, the most important of all is for us to join hands to build the state of our dream. The Kogi state that we all will be very proud of any day and anywhere in the world.

On being a young man saddled with the responsibility to manage the affairs of the state – The challenges and blessings.

Yes, I have always been asked by many about this age thing being a challenge but like I always tell them, it is a great a blessing.

Indeed, it is even more of a blessing to be given a chance at a young age particularly

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INTERVIEW

when one has distinguished himself in his chosen field(s). Today, we see this as a bridge between the young and old. While the youth come on board with fresh ideas, we will need the experience of the elders who have been through the routes. So, everyone will definitely be very important in our government.

in view of his many contributions to the development of our state and passing on in the struggle for a better Kogi state, it will only be necessary to immortalize him.

We will surely keep his memory alive and generations yet unborn will come and read about him as one of the greats the land has ever produced.

Speaking on the challenges confronting civil servants and their expectations from the incoming administration

Responding to issues of job creation, infrastructural development and federal allocations to the state.

We are very much aware of the enormous challenges confronting civil servants in the state today. It is rather unfortunate but our administration will look inward and equally spread our search for solutions to any extent possible to help resolve all these challenges ranging from salaries and pension arrears. Also, we are not ignorant of the bad road network which cause lots of inconvenience to the work force in the state and also leads to resuming late to point of duties in some cases. As a team, we will bring on board the energy, creativity and passion to develop the state for all.

We will bear in mind the success of our dear leader, Prince Abubakar Audu as most of the major development strides of the state till date are the efforts of his administrations. So, we are set to do things differently from what Kogites have experienced in recent times to bring back the state to where it should really be in the comity of states in Nigeria and also endeavour to place it on global map for tourism et al.

On keeping the memory of Prince Abubakar Audu alive in the state for his contributions

Without mincing words, Prince Abubakar Audu is a legend as far as the political history of our dear state is concerned. Therefore,

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We are coming on board with our plans as to how best to go about job creation in the state for our teeming and capable youths. We won’t fold our hands and watch things being done the old ways. We are in for new direction so things will be done differently.

Yes, our people need basic infrastructures so it becomes our responsibility to make these needs available to them. We are determined not to look only up to allocations from the federal government but will seek alternative means to meet our needs in the state. Kogi state is blessed with lots of natural resources and we won’t just stop at listing them on pages of papers but get them out in order to bring food to the tables of our people among other benefits.

His words to all Kogites home and abroad at this point in the life of our dear state.

Our common concern and focus as Kogites today should be hope for better deals ahead. Good days when Kogites can raise their heads again proudly and be happy as Kogites. And, to achieve this we must hold on to unity, very key, we need unity. If the leadership is doing the right thing the people will careless of their differences so let’s join hands together to move Kogi state in the New Direction.

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THE 3RD DAY FIDAU PRAYER Wednesday, November 25, 2015

L-R; HRH, Ohiogba Muzum with Mohammed Abububakar Audu

L-R; Alh. Jibrin Isah (Echocho) with Mohammed Abubakar Audu

Alh. Jibrin Isah (Echocho) with HE, Arc. Yomi Awoniyi, Kogi state deputy governor in a hand shake

L-R; Mohammed with his brother, Kabiru robbing minds

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THE 3RD DAY FIDAU PRAYER

L-R; Arc. Yomi Awoniyi with Sen. Ibrahim Mantu, fmr. Deputy Senator President

L-R; HRH, Ejeh Dekina and Hon. Benjamin Ikani

Sen. Ibrahim Mantu, Alh. Mohammed Abubakar Audu and others heading for the venue of the 3rd day fidau prayer in memory of Prince Abubakar Audu

Mustapha Abubakar Audu greeting guests at the 3rd day fidau prayer

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THE 3RD DAY FIDAU PRAYER

The chief Imam leading the prayer at the fidau prayer

Some of the guests at the prayer ceremony

Alh. Kashim Imam coordinating the prayer program

Some of the imams present at the prayer program

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THE 3RD DAY FIDAU PRAYER

Imams reciting the Holy Quran

Arc. Yomi Awoniyi delivering the message of HE, Capt. Idris Ichalla Wada at the 3rd day fidau prayer

The Chief Imam thanking all on behalf of the Imams 40

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COMMUNITY

STILL ON THE IMPASSE IN THE KOGI STATE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION

G

Posted by JOHN ABUH OYIDIH (oidih@lycos.co) to IGALA PROJECT (IgalaProject@yahoogroup.com via returns.groups.yahoo.com) on Monday, November 30, 2015

ood morning folks. I woke up this morning with a very heavy burden on this subject matter and decided to relieve the burden and as well seek for way outs from my brothers and sisters on this platform. A lot have been said but I dare say we are yet to see a winwin solution especially as far as the Igala are concerned.

I will like to present my intervention below and plead that you painstakingly go through it.

At the risk of sounding repetitive, please permit me to recall the following.

That the election was held on 21/11/2015 and that the election was declared inconclusive on Sunday 22/11/205. That from most of the legal opinions on the situation presented by the sudden death of Prince Abubakar Audu, the peculiar situation of death DURING an election was never contemplated nor provided for by both the electoral Act and the Nigerian constitution.

That the supreme court intervention/interpretation may be needed and/or INEC provide their own way forward based on may be ‘the doctrine of necessity’. That the gap between APC and PDP being 41,353 is less than the total registered voters of 49,953 in the 91 polling

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units where supplementary elections are to be held on 5/12/2015. And that INEC has advised APC to bring a candidate to replace Audu for the election.

I understand too that PDP has gone to court for its candidate to be declared the winner of the election having scored the second highest vote after the APC and APC candidate having died. I understand too that Faleke, Prince Audu’s running mate, has written to INEC for him to be declared winner having lost his ‘principal’ to death. I understand too that Kogi East APC has endorsed Mohammed Audu as a replacement for his father and understood too, though not too sure of this, that Kogi state APC have submitted Yahaya Bello’s name to INEC as its replacement having come second to Audu in the original APC primary. I equally heard that they were protests by the Igala on the alleged choice of Bello.

I want to state at the onset that all humans and almost all of us on this platforms (including myself) have sympathies for one candidate, party or the other but irrespective of these leanings, I would appeal to us to look at this intervention from a very neutral perspective.

The obvious: By

my reckoning, if the supplementary election is to proceed as directed by INEC it is only an academic exercise and to fulfil all righteousness.

This my position is informed by the fact that the 91 polling units in question are spread across 18 or 19 LGAs of the State’s 21 LGAs with Dekina having the highest of over 20,000 when Ogenigwu’s 17,000 plus is added to Anyigba’s and others. The 49,953 represents registered voters and not those that have collected PVCs and therefore entitled to vote.

That assuming that none of these voters have died since voters registration that produced them, that none will be indisposed by way of sickness, etc on the day of the election and that none would have traveled out of his/her domain on that day, it will take a turn out of over 82% of these registered voters and all, not even a single wasted vote, would have to vote for PDP for the current results to be upturned in favour of PDP. For me, this may be more difficult than the biblical camel passing through the eye of the needle. As a result of this position of mine, which all may not agree with, and assuming that supplementary as against fresh elections are to be held, my discussion here will centre on APC and

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COMMUNITY not PDP. The options: Many have argued that a total fresh elections would have resolved the quagmire than supplementary election as one candidate’s votes cannot be ‘inherited’ by another person.

The argument against this however by the opposing views is that votes are for the party and not the candidate (a chicken versus egg situation, which is older?) For me what we are in now is like the famous devil’s alternative - whatever action is finally taken people must go to court for ultimate resolution either between parties or intra-party. Some of the arguments for and against the replacements whose names have been mentioned are: Mohammed Audu: That the governorship candidate before the death was from Kogi east and that Kogi east have the right to replace Audu senior with Audu junior or whoever it deems fit from the same Kogi east.

Opponents of Mohammed Audu’s candidature argue that he did not participate in the original primary and that it is not a family or hereditary matter like traditional stool for Mohammed to inherit his father’s candidature.

Whether he has the capacity and competence to govern the State is another kettle of fish.

James Ocholi: James Ocholi participated in the primary that produced Audu and if participation in that primary is the criteria, he sure qualifies. But the argument against him using the criteria 42

is that he was not the runner up to Audu. Others argue that since he already has a role at the federal level, the Igala should consider other candidates except if he were to be given the nod by the party hierarchy irrespective of the position he took in the original primary.

I will personally add that except if he is unanimously agreed upon by the party with minimal friction to conclude the started electoral process, resigning his current position to contest, may be, a fresh primary whose outcome is not guaranteed, may not be a wise decision as they say a bird in hand is more than many flying out there.

James Faleke: Faleke has written to INEC to be declared winner. For me, and I may be wrong, this is in tandem with the saying that attack is the best form of defense. He

A situation where Bello (for plausible and very painful as it were) becomes the governor from Kogi central with speaker from there already and deputy from Kogi west, will be most painful and unbearable.

may just be safeguarding his deputy candidature position by so doing so that whoever is ultimately taken to replace Audu would still consider him a running mate. Most legal opinions are to the fact that since APC was not DECLARED winner before the demise of Audu, that he may not have much say and that he was only an appendage and not an equal opportunity situation with the ‘principal’.

Yahaya Bello: He is the runner up in the primary that produced Audu and so would seem the right choice to replace Audu. But major arguments against him are alleged anti-party activities.

That he was alleged to have gone to pick SDP ticket but dropped the idea after being advised that the winner will either be PDP or APC. That he was never involved in the APC campaign and that he worked for and delivered his LGA to PDP. If this allegations can be proved, I guess it is a fertile ground to skip him and consider the next person but even at that I am told no Igala candidate came third.

Jibrin Isah: Some have argued that Jibrin has been struggling for this position since 2011 and he should be considered a good candidate because of the generation to which he belongs and the fact that James Ocholi already has a federal role. But the main argument against him is that he just came into APC and should not reap where he did not show. That he was not an APC member when the original primary was held.

That he can only contest on the same footing with Arise Igala-Issue 28

COMMUNITY others if a fresh APC primary is called for to replace Audu but I think with only 5 days to the supplementary election a fresh primary may not be feasible.

My view: I would want to say first and foremost that our lack of unity is a major cause of the problem we are in. People have argued severally, that our political leaders are selfish and do not groom successors. I cannot agree less. What is the point presenting a litany of candidates from the same place for the same position in a primary instead of agreeing to present a common front and one person. The last time I checked about five candidates contested for APC governorship primary from Dekina LGA alone. But this is not the time to cry over spilled milk but to proffer solution.

Joshua did call for a round table to discuss Igala nation’s economic and political agenda. This call cannot be more apt at any other time than now. But for me that is in the medium to long term. What do we do in the immediate? Under the current dispensation, the position of governor, deputy and speaker of the house of assembly are spread between the three senatorial zones. If PDP or APC was to win under the happenings before Audu’s death, this status quo would have been maintained as the two governorship candidates and deputies were from Kogi

I would want to say first and foremost that our lack of unity is a major cause of the problem we are in. People have argued severally, that our political leaders are selfish and do not groom successors

East and west respectively and the sitting speaker is already from Kogi central.

A situation where Bello (for plausible and very painful as it were) becomes the governor from Kogi central with speaker from there already and deputy from Kogi west, will be most painful and unbearable. Some may argue that one is already given up on the fight by settling for this position but I don’t know what your take are.

Some others have argued that power is set to shift, may be, through the back door and that we have held power for 16 years without

doing much with it and that it should therefore shift to try the other people. That Kogi should be considered an equal opportunity State.

I PERSONALLY do not align with this argument. That we have had power and didn’t do much with it in the past does not mean that we would not do something with it tomorrow. In Benue, for instance, there is no way an Idoma man can ever think of governing the State and hence have resigned themselves to making impact from the National level. What makes ours different?

The solution to this problem will definitely be political and that whatever decision is ultimately taken, some other persons (inter or intraparty(ies) will be aggrieved and most definitely will resort to litigation. My final submission is that we do not have time on our hand. While we await the medium to long term strategy/solution and while we explore the possibility of getting an Igala to replace Audu in APC, our people should immediately make demands on Bello and Co on our conditions for conceding the position, if we must. We should have a fall-back position. We must obtain assurances. The time to make demands, in case our fears come to pass, is NOW. Let those that are key to decision making in the party act now without an element of delay as a stitch in time, they say, saves nine.

Our COMMUNITY section is a selection of Online Reaction(s) and/or Trending Discussion(s) on the internet with the intention that our readers are inspired to follow the original story on the shared link. Opinion and comments expressed here are purely thought(s) of the author(s) and readers are free to respond. Please, send your reply or comment to ariseigala.opinion@gmail.com

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THE 8TH DAY FIDAU PRAYER Sunday, November 29, 2015

Mohammed Audu arriving the venue of the 8th day Fidau Prayer in memory of his late father, Prince Abubakar Audu at Ogbonicha

Mohammed Audu sitted (m) with the Exce. Governor of Niger state (r) and Deputy Governor of Kogis state (l)

Royal fathers and elderstatesman, Isa Atodo (m) at the prayer ground

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THE 8TH DAY FIDAU PRAYER

L-R: Prof. M.S. Abdulkadir, Vice Chancellor, Kogi State University, Anyigba and Prof. Aliyu Abdullahi, Chairman, KSU Governing Council, behind the Chairman is Dr. S.S. Ameh (SAN)

At the prayer ground, Admiral Ogohi (r)

Royal fathers at the prayer ground, Ogbonicha

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THE 8TH DAY FIDAU PRAYER

Some of the guests at the prayer ground

At the prayer ground in Ogbonicha

Some of faces at the Ogbonicha for the prayer

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THE 8TH DAY FIDAU PRAYER

Sheik Abubakar Sadiq (sitting at the middle) at the prayer ground

League of imams from across the state for the prayer

Imams during a quran recitation

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THE 8TH DAY FIDAU PRAYER

Hon. Y.Y. (front) with some members of Kogi State House of Assembly

DCP Aurelius Y. Adejoh (front) with some members of the State House of Assembly

Paying attention to the preaching by Sheik Sadiq Abubakar

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THE 8TH DAY FIDAU PRAYER

Paying attention to the words of consolations from the Holy Quran

A cross section of the audince at the prayer ground

The chief imam addressing the audince at Ogbonicha during the prayer in memory of Prince of the Niger

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FOCUS

UNMASKING IGALA DOMINANCE AND KOGI POLITICAL SWINGS (PART 1)

By REV. FR. ATTAH ANTHONY AGBALI

R

ecent political events in Nigeria have been very interesting, as they are disturbing. From the agitation for a separatist Biafran nation-state, the internal political intrigues and struggles within the All Progressive Congress (APC) ruling party, fuel shortage, and a sliding public opinion regarding the APC ruling government critical and swift responses to urgent national challenges the news have been pealing and reeling enormously. Kogi State have also been prominently in the news recently following poor governing performance indicators by the incumbent

PDP-led government, the gubernatorial elections, the unexpected demise of a leading gubernatorial candidate, and eminent politician, the late Prince Abubakar Audu, and in its wake the ignominious political theatric displays it has awaken.

Prior to the election held on November 21st, 2015, and ultimately concluded on December 5th, Kogi State was rated the poorest state of the federation. Public workers were and are still owed months of their hard earned salaries. Wherever and whenever some get paid, they receive a slice of their hard-earned income, depending on the goodwill of the ruling political actors, and unconscionably wallowing in penury and abject

poverty. A Local Government chairperson can decide to pay at whims only 15 percent of workers remunerations and without hope that the render 85 percent will ever be paid.

Truculent leadership dominates and the populace are sweltering, hugely suffering while a clique of the ruling class, state and local government officials are robustly swelling without conscience and feeling. It was this perilous situation that marked the electorates’ massive response to the just concluded gubernatorial election, hence out-voting the incumbent administration of Governor Idris Wada’s PDPled government. This scenario elicits a critical review of the political environment and the cogent issues emanating from that clime.

The Macabre Swings:

Audu’s Demise and The Kogi Political Dance Prince Abubakar Audu’s death on the eve of his electoral victory, and reclaiming of the governor’s seat has left tongues wagging and has become a political albatross.

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Some persons, including politicians, interprets Audu’s death as suspicious and veiling a sinister motive. The invocation of poisoning rent the air almost immediately.

Some online news media

related that the Imo State governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha in an interview insinuated that the APC party leader, Chief Bola Tinubu was behind Audu’s death, eliminated in soothing

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FOCUS Tinubu’s mischievous and calculated political purpose (http://elomba.com/index. php/opinion/22-breakingnews/2727-tinubu-othersk i l l e d - ko g i - s - a b u ba k a raudu-conspiracy-theorists ). Okorocha almost issued an immediate disclaimer, dissociating himself from having made such claims, or even granting any interview on that subject matter ( w w w. n a i j . c o m / 6 4 5 8 7 8 o k o r o c h a - c l e a r s - a i rtinubus-role-audus-death. html ).

While vested interests often significantly drive politics and its agenda, why would anyone take another’s life? Verifying the veracity of such claims and counterclaims remain thoroughly problematic. No one knows for sure the truth of this reality. Yet conspiracy theorists are having a field day, spinning and spurning their webs of justifiable rationalizations—at least to themselves and those whose attention they gain.

Some claimed Tinubu as imposing James Faleke, as Audu’s running mate for Kogi’s deputy governor.

Faleke is a federal legislator representing Ikeja federal constituency in the House of Representatives. Faleke is claimed to be Tinubu’s political minion.

Some disavowed him as a non-Kogi state’s indigene. After all, he is a serving federal legislator representing a constituency in Lagos State. Others claim Faleke is Okun Yoruba, but Arise Igala-Issue 28

Worst of all, Audu’s demise threw his fellow Igala ethnic into political convulsion. Their convoluted political calculations stalled.

The Igala were stopped on their track unable to hilariously celebrate their demi-urge political mastery status, given their privileged demographic superior advantages

even some Okun Yoruba disclaims his aborigines in Kogi State. In this garrulous terrain of rumors milling and conspiracy theories, one is leery and questions what the truth is, or the lies to be discarded.

In the immediate aftermath of news of Audu’s death, some media reports linked the Imo State according to their assumed theory, Audu’s death was orchestrated to pave way for Faleke to swiftly ease into power. Tinubu has been linked to the crises in the national assembly, alleged to have tried to unsuccessfully impose his candidates as leaders of the house and senate. Thinking along this

scenario, the proponents believe that Tinubu, stymied by the elected president Mohammed Buhari, is desirous of controlling different political machinery to foster his ambition and relevance in 2019. Audu, it was alleged had met and dined with Tinubu days prior to the election. Their view is that Audu was sacrificed on the altar of Tinubu’s seething political ambition. Ordinarily, such rumored spins arranges the puzzles neatly; for Audu having voted earlier in the election, in less than twentyfours was cold-turkey dead.

The man of Audu’s exuberant stature and towering prominence, always bestriding any spatial landscape and ever in control, to die as he did, sounded baloney. Love or hate him and his style—and maybe brand-of politics, to die as Audu did looks abysmally surreal. Even worst, the siren of death coming at the 11th hour to his long yearned for election victory was both unfathomable and unpardonable.

For many Nigerians the concept of natural death is alien— supernatural and mysterious sources must induce the death of public figures.

More than anything else, Audu’s death altered certain political calibrations. Politics can be hydra-monstrous and ravenous. Decoding the many algebraic calculations that wraps politics as an art of intrigues, schematic 51

FOCUS equations, and scientific plotting involves hard imagination and rough paths.

Audu was something of a political colossus stalking and bestriding the political landscape of Kogi State since late 1991 when he was elected as the first civilian governor, under the Babangida diarchy (with military suzerains and elected civilians political subordinates, running the affairs of state). Audu was sacked by his military allies, but he courageously returned following the reemergence of democratic politics after the military abdicated power.

Unstoppable, with flapping arrogance and towering ego, he was reelected as governor in 1999, until his ousting by the “electorates” in April 2003. Ever since, Audu relentlessly pursued unsuccessfully, though with gloves in hand throwing punches wanted to reclaim his lost grooves. Mindful of that goal he contested in all the gubernatorial elections in the intervening last twelve years, but all in vain. This time around, he was coasting to electoral victory when death knifed his opulent aspiration and clogged his anticipated political ruminations.

Death straddled him, and wittingly-unwittingly, the hopes and aspirations of the people that celebrated and trusted his governing skills and competence. The current governor order led many into comparative 52

analysis of the political and socio-economic terrain, and ranked Audu higher, based upon his assumed past political performance record.

In spite of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission allegations against Audu, regarding milking Kogi State in the past, the millennial youths, heroically idolized Audu.

For them, Audu provided the imagined elixir from their demented existence and their bludgeoning foreclosed future.

Audu was considered as

Igala recent sonorous silence masks their deep emotional trauma and sore wounds.

Sore and sour, their soaring clipped many Igala become all too obviously reticent.

However, they are inwardly weeping; sobbing woefully for their lost chance.

They are indeed smarting about their smashed political trophy. Maybe, they will learn. But time is golden, for now power has slipped out of their grip. Sullen they need to recalibrate

their uplifting antidote, hence voting en masse for his ticket. Many Indomies perceived in him the cleansing agent for their soot soiled faces and unsalted existence. These millennials weighed Audu against the specter of their worsening existential conditions, carefully placed at the door step of the adjudged misrule of the increasingly unpopular incumbent People’s Democratic Party (PDP) led government of Governor Idris Wada (another Igala).

Unfortunately, adding insult to injury, the angel of death melted their dreams and hopes of Audu bringing them the transformations they seek and associate with his ability.

“Worst of all, Audu’s demise threw his fellow Igala ethnic into political convulsion.

Their convoluted political calculations stalled.

The Igala were stopped on their track unable to hilariously celebrate their demi-urge political mastery status, given their privileged demographic superior advantages.”

Worst of all, Audu’s demise threw his fellow Igala ethnic into political convulsion.

Their convoluted political calculations stalled. The Igala were stopped on their track unable to hilariously celebrate their demi-urge political mastery status, given their privileged demographic superior advantages. The mystery of death and its timing crassly derailed the Arise Igala-Issue 28

FOCUS Igala ethnic group political aspirations and stronghold.

Their strangling hold upon state power has come to an unexpected end.

The flapping wings of the death messenger slapped the Igala to their faces, promptly dismantling their grip upon Kogi State’s political power.

The Igala cozy and relaxed feelings of powerful and unperturbed controlled now punctured, they are confused and bedazzled.

Their imagined hegemon and created status quo had evaporated so swiftly leaving them stone-faced. Today, with the macabre swing, their political dance have become stunted, tempered, and sullenly solemn. The feeling they can always leverage power, calling the shot regarding when and which loyal ethnic group to slowly relinquish their power-grip has turned misty.

The Igala have become demystified courtesy of the angel of death and their skewed political logarithm.

Trusting in a false sense of security until now, the Igala have arrogantly celebrate their assured and obtuse sense of political immunity that favored their perpetual arrogation and control of state patronages and resources. A feeling that almost accords them a divine patrimony and political right to domination in the state’s affairs against the other ethnic groups evaporated overnight—without any Arise Igala-Issue 28

Death is no good, it fiendish ways, can never make it a friend to the Igala— ever, and not at this time. The rays of death played itself safely and smartly, outsmarting the Igala, jostling them from their farcical delusions when it came for their prominent kin. Audu did not die alone, the Igala died with him

bargain. The Igala had too wisely played themselves to a shameful laughter of their “foes”.

Death is no good, it fiendish ways, can never make it a friend to the Igala—ever, and not at this time. The rays of death played itself safely and smartly, outsmarting the Igala, jostling them from their farcical delusions when it came for their prominent kin. Audu did not die alone, the Igala died with him.

Death thus dented the false illusions and the blatant utopia the Igala had long created toward holding sway and directing state power

and patronages.

Audu’s sudden demise opened up reality the Igala long suppressed but have long stared them boldly in the face. They had been recalcitrant in steering their political capital in another direction, emphasizing sterling leadership aimed at responsible, accountable, and ethical governance.

The tide rapidly changing, now many feels the political auguries do not augur well.

Igala recent sonorous silence masks their deep emotional trauma and sore wounds.

Sore and sour, their soaring clipped many Igala become all too obviously reticent.

However, they are inwardly weeping; sobbing woefully for their lost chance. They are indeed smarting about their smashed political trophy. Maybe, they will learn. But time is golden, for now power has slipped out of their grip. Sullen they need to recalibrate.

“Igala recent sonorous silence masks their deep emotional trauma and sore wounds. Sore and sour, their soaring clipped many Igala become all too obviously reticent. However, they are inwardly weeping; sobbing woefully for their lost chance.

They are indeed smarting about their smashed political trophy. Maybe, they will learn. But time is golden, for now power has slipped out of their grip. Sullen they need to recalibrate”.

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FOCUS

Political Tremor and Mischievous Calculus:

Misfiring and Choking This political tremor, has quaked the Igala political class to their marrow, and even more. It has also thrown up their lack of political intelligence and skewed calibrations as egocentric, narcissistic, and lacking in altruistic disposition. In the light of these recent changes, many Igala millennials are not perturbed about the rumbles and retranslation of the Kogi political landscape.

The social media commentaries and posts attest to their state of mind. Most believe the political class deserves their fate, reaping what they have longed sowed, smooth talkers and mavericks, that are pathetically greedy, arrogant, and self-centered.

Such egregious perceptions of the Igala political class is troubling.

Nonetheless, any critical analysis of the current atmosphere lucidly points to a robustly narcissistic political class, talking at cross purpose and in circles, manifestly in disarray. In the wake of Audu’s death, some among the political class exhibited petulant imagination.

Double-speaks and indolent actions, proved them as inchoate and devoid of smart strategies. In the world of the 21st Century, many seemed not to understand the

leitmotif of the democratic process. In the negotiations regarding Audu’s successor, they threw up his unprepared son, Mohammed as his political successor.

Such prebendal and patrimonial displays portrayed the naivety of this class. It portends the shallowness of the Igala political class. They displayed their full range of perilous political thinking, unmasking their true calculative purposes and narcissistic mindset and purpose. Instructively, they proved that their search for democratic relevance was to create a class of feudal overlords; tended to mirror monarchical forms of political domination. In so doing, the Igala political class damaged their own legitimacy; and redundantly mortgaging their public appeal. They nailed themselves by sacrificing the wider Igala political interests to their narrow purview selfinterests; acting inanely and speaking naively. Seeking convenient soft-landing pads and anchors they erupted further popular angsts and caused themselves further risks.

This unfortunately seemed to be at the root of the recent assassination attempts on two distinguished Igala political actors: Senators Ahmadu Adah Ali and

They displayed their full range of perilous political thinking, unmasking their true calculative purposes and narcissistic mindset and purpose

Nicholas Ugbane, both assaulted in Ogbonicha, Audu’s hometown, during the 8th days Islamic prayers for his repose.

As the parlous petulancy of some of these Igala political class woefully failed them, some have refused to learn valuable lessons, and are playing mavericks, broadening their self-centered but tristful theatrics. However, the old music--the drumming and rhythmic intonation of ethnic mantras, so much overplayed in the past, seemingly is fast wearing out, and changing.

…PART 2 to be continued in ISSUE 30 with the sub-heading “The Indomie Generation: New Political Pathways and Mapping Igala Future” .You can also visit our website WWW.ARISEIGALA.COM

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CONDOLENCE MESSAGE ADIEU!!!

PRINCE ABUBAKAR AUDU

The unspeakable tragedy of our brother, friend, colleague, Governor Prince Abubakar Audu’s sudden but mysterious demise is notably eventful. Audu’s indelible footprints on the sands of time is globally acknowledged but remarkably significant in Kogi, his beloved State; even Ogbonicha, Ofu LGA his birth place testify glamorously of his life achievements.

Audu no doubt was a uniquely talented politician. He doggedly pursued his ambition for popular support to govern Kogi State the third time. He virtually succeeded in getting the people’s mandate but for the electoral technicalities that delayed pronouncement by INEC, of his victory before bowing out to eternity.

His loving memory would ever remain from generation to generation.

My sincere condolences to all the members of his family, his loved ones, the Igala people, citizens of Kogi State and the Nigerian Nation for the irretrievable loss of this vibrant political juggernaut of our time.

ADIEU PRINCE ABUBAKAR AUDU. REST IN PEACE!!!

Arc. Gabriel Yakubu Aduku (OON)

Amana Ogohi1 Ata Igala

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CONDOLENCE MESSAGE Tribute to Prince Abubakar Audu When I received a call informing me of the rumoured death of Prince Abubakar Audu, the first Executive Governor of Kogi State, I cursed those spreading the “rumour”, hoping that it was all rumour. That denial of the death of the “Prince of the Niger” did not stop the confirmation by the electronic media hours later, that perhaps Kogi’s most pragmatic and best grass root mobilizer was indeed gone. My sincere condolences to his immediate family, the Igala people, his political associates, the government of Kogi State and all Kogites.

Although, my first real contact with was in connection with discouraging the adored politician from contesting, in favour of being a Godfather to a younger, more energetic and vibrant mentee, he later succeeded in convincing me and indeed, the Kogi voters that he still had a lot in stock towards rejuvenating, reconstruction and re-engineering of the political, social, human resource and infrastructural development of Kogi state.

It is my very sincere belief that in the death of prince Abubakar, we have lost, at least temporarily the following: A governor who would have combined the revenue mobilization and apt people-oriented policies of former Governor Fashola, with human resource development potentials of Gov. Kwankwaso, as well as with the infrastructural development capacity of Gov. Akpabio A governor who would have developed each senatorial zone in such a way that citizens of that senatorial zone would think that they are being favoured until they visit other senatorial zones.

A man under whose watch, no Kogi state indigene would have suffered unmerited humiliation in the hands of any individual or government in Nigeria.

A man having learned from the past, was prepared to make worker’s welfare the centre piece of his administration.

Like all human beings, Prince Abubakar may not be perfect, but he did his best to earn the title of one of the best leaders, the Igala nation, and indeed Kogi State, has ever produced. One of the best ways that this man of quality, vision and political ingenuity can be immortalised is for Kogi leaders coming after him to ensure that his greater visions for the Kogi state in general, and Igala people, in particular, are translated and nurtured into a Kogi State, and an Igalaland of our dreams.

Adieu, our dear no-nonsense, but listening Prince of the Niger. May your spirit, that of Dr Stephen Achema and other great Igala sons and daughters that have gone beyond continue to inspire and guide our present and future Igala leaders.

Professor Sunday E. Atawodi, FAS Biochemistry Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Tel:08033850613 Email:atawodi_se@yahoo.com

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CONDOLENCE MESSAGE ADIEU!!!

PRINCE ABUBAKAR AUDU

Our leader and political father of Kogi politics and indeed a national figure of our great country will be truly missed. He left a big vacuum that filling will be near impossible but his legacies and mentorship will guide us. My condolences to his immediate and political family. I trust the next governor will make sure Kogi works in his honour.

ADIEU PRINCE ABUBAKAR AUDU. REST IN PEACE!!!

Hon. Edward A. Onoja

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ONLINE CONDOLENCE MESSAGES

Senator Abubakar Abdulraman signing the condolence register at the residence of late Prince Abubakar Audu

These condolence messages were registered on our Facebook Page, ARISE IGALA Magazine memory of Adoja The Great, Prince Abubakar Audu shortly after the 8th Day Fidau Prayer.

May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace. Amin.

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ONLINE CONDOLENCE MESSAGES Muhammed Seidu You died a winner and became subject of discussion in the political circle. You died creating room for our constitution to be amended and electoral laws to be revisited. You died and became a political research tool for future electoral processes, Prince Abubakar Audu, Adoja of Igala kingdom, the prince of the Niger, you are gone but never be forgotten and may Allah in his infinite mercy shelter your grave with the cloud of peace, mercy and honour and forever rest in peace. Allahumma Ameen.

Prince Ibrahim Candy Halidu The news of your death was a rude shock to me.

Sir, I have always known you to be a dogged fighter and a great achiever who believe in the advancement of your people. Dated back when you were a Commissioner of Finance under the military administration, you started impacting positively on your people. This genuine love and passion for your people became apparent when you became the first executive governor of Kogi State. And since then it’s been one success story or the other all through the life of your administration and beyond. Today, we are left ONLY with the memories of your good deeds and great achievements across the state. You were an icon, a rallying point, a leader per excellence, a benevolent, a flambouyant personality with unique styles and class. The irreplaceable vacuum created by your demise has not just changed the entire political situation in Kogi State but thrown the Nigerian electoral process into state of confusion. It is barely a week ago that you left us and the Igala is about experiencing a major Power shift in its entire existence in Kogi State. You came, you saw and you conquered. And above all, you went down a winner. Finding a replacement for you in Igala land has become a herculean task. Oh Death where is your sting? Rest on Sir. May Allah continue to have mercy on your soul, forgive your sins and grant you Aljannatu Firdausi. Ameen.

Aroma Arome Sule You gave us and even your haters everything, yet we lost you. Your haters never knew your worth until you left but now feeling the heat of your demise. You were unique and a one man squad. R.I.P. Ibrahim Abdul Presido Good Morning Prince Abubakar Audu Oyidi (THE PRINCE OF NIGER). Audu’s issue is a chapter in book where different authors have contributed and you pick the chapter you can analyse and regurgitates without fear or favour. His impacts are endless discussion in the lives of KOGITES. You lived a humble life until your death. No words to qualify your leadership ability because at the moment, no one can break your track records in Kogi state. In summary, you were everything for Kogi state. BABA OTOGBO! THE BEST DRESSING GOVERNOR. REST IN PEACE Saidu Peter Idakwoji Ogbo Only faith in ALLAH will fill the void left by the loss of

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our beloved Prince Abubakar Audu. Nothing is more painful in life as the separation of a jewery like Prince Abubakar Audu from Kogites. Time passes, but the pain in our hearts and the tears in our eyes remains the same as when our beloved father to all in Kogi history passed away. His kind words and face remains forever in our minds. You retired quietly, the same way you live in the world of good and righteous.

May God watch you sleep forever my dear Governor/ brother. A thought of comfort and condolences to the grieving family. AUDU you are gone but your hand writing in entire Kogi state and the environ can never be wiped away forever and ever. Rest in perfect peace the man of the people.

James Hassan S. Prince Abubakar Audu you are a man of history.

You came, made your mark in all areas of human life through your leadership quality in politics, as a builder, developer, community mobilizer and man of the people. You will be remembered for your human capital development for ever. Adieu.

Onalo Princewill Usman So, this is how life is unpredictable? When the fruit is ripe for harvest, the maggot came, devoured and spoilt what was supposed to be a great and a bumper reward for a hard labour, in a glimpse of time the mirage seems so closer yet ahead. Prince A. Audu your demise has not only pierced a hole in our hearts but has brought all to the reflection of the true you, your dreams, aspirations and what you lived, believed and died for, the emancipation of your people. This landmark is historical, putting one both old and young on a critical assignment, in sober reflection and in the re-awakening of our subconscious mind of the price tag hanging on everyone’s neck. Mortals may had adjudged you good or bad based on their assessment of the life you lived while on earth but in all the supreme judgment supersedes. The dogged fighter as you were fondly called, you fought a good fight, still standing tall even in death. The Igala and the entire world would not complete the history of politics without referencing you. Good night Prince Abubakar Audu. We love you but God loves you the most. Adieu Adoja Chenemi Racheal I can never forget this your greeting “Me gwa’Adoja ...Ede!” Your memories remain in our hearts. The unborn Igala children will hear and see your good works. May the Lord grant you eternal rest. REST IN PEACE. Wisdom Ayuba Omaidu The legacy you left behind we cannot forget it, the man of integrity may God grant you eternal rest in Jesus name. We love you but God loves you Most.

Prince Abubakar Audu our hand is cut because of you but we can’t question our Creator, rest in peace.

Osakwe Ukamaka Joy The prince, the lion of Niger, the Adoja. I know

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ONLINE CONDOLENCE MESSAGES you for one thing, QUALITY. Although I am not an Igala but I was in Lokoja between 2002 and 2005, the structures you put on ground are still solid e.g. commissioners’ quarters, civil servants were able to get housing loans, some may be seeing you as a bad man while others see you as a messiah, that is human nature, but I see you as a man of high taste, how I wish you know how people jubilated when the rumor of your resurrection circulated, it shows that your people love you, you really dashed your supporters hope, but we cannot ask God why. If you can see from the land beyond, please continue to pray for Kogi state and Nigeria in general. Adieu Adoja, adieu the lion of the Niger, adieu the man with quality, adieu Prince Abubakar Audu Agada Sunday The man of the people, Prince Abubakar Audu, indeed you came, lived, and left matchless mark in the sand of time! Your love for education among others, make Kogi State Polytechnic and Kogi State University to remain a life-time legacy and Education-made-Easy for us and our children’s children. History of Igala, Kogi, and Nigeria Politics will ever be uncompleted without reference to you as a Former Governor and About-To-Be Governor, PRINCE ABUBAKAR AUDU. Rest in peace Omika Okutepa Prince Abubakar Audu, I never met you personally before your demise. You have come and done your part for the Igala land and Kogi state in general. Your death has put lawyers to task. No day passes that your name is not being mentioned. You have won the crown. Rest in peace Adoja!!!

Sam Opaluwa We lost you in a time when your wealth of experience is greatly needed for the development of our dear state. When the news of your resurrection was rumoured across the federation, many of your fans numbering in their thousands trooped out in jubilation. This speaks volume of how much people love you and your influence in Kogi State and in Nigeria. R.I.P MAN OF THE PEOPLE (ADOJA) Amana Solomon I am speechless. It’s just like a dream to me till now.

People of kogi will never forget you and especially we Igala will never forget you. Your demise had put us into serious confusion and deep pain. Prince Abubakar Audu we love you so much but God knows why you left us at this critical time we need you most.

Your finger print will never be forgotten in our heart.

May your soul R.I.P. ADOJA ADE!!!

Abubakar Samaila Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiun. Surely every soul will test death «Kulun nafsin zaikatul mout»...See More Christopher Musa O. The death of Prince Abubakar Audu left Kogi state and Nigeria at large in confusion. The many

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achievements of his government when he was alive make Kogites to miss him more. Adoja …Ede!!! Rest on.

Grace Shaibu Prince Abubakar Audu ...the Adoja, the Prince of the Niger, the man of people, the governor who left visible landmarks during his administration. While many are asking why you died pointing accusing fingers, I see it from God’s will and destiny. While we were working, praying for you to come back, God changed your plan and our plans to announce you a hero even in death. As human being, you may not be perfect but you wanted the best for your state. Adieu to man with large heart for his people, adieu to icon of our time, Kogi will miss you for a long time. Good night my first inspiration in politics. I admired your doggedness.

Victoria Usman Haruna RIP, Prince Abubakar Audu, you came, you saw and you conquered. You remain a great fighter even in death. The Igala race will miss you...

Jibrin Abubakar Am still in shock about the death of Prince Abubakar Audu. What a great loss to people of Igala kingdom and the entire Kogi state? Daddy RIP. Abubakar Bukar May you regret your earthly stay in your heavenly abode, RIP Prince Abubakar Audu.

Ibrahim Makolo Abubakar Prince Abubakar Audu, thank God for your legacies, thank God you died as a hero, thank God you left an indelible foot prints in the polity of Kogi state and Nigeria at large, and thank God you were tremendously loved by the generality of Kogites. We wish we can change the hands of time! Your death have exposed us to the different dimension of politics and laws. Rest in peace the father of development.

Minkail Lukman Adoja you are an icon of Igala land, your death remain a surprise to us. Audu, we accepted your death as God’s will. It is my prayer that Almighty Allah grant you al jenatul Firdausi, amen. Prince Abubakar Audu, the Prince of Niger, good night baba Adoja.

Umar Akowe The Iroko in Kogi State politics who left the scene when he was needed most among his people. Your political history can never be forgotten in Nigeria.

Your legacy lives on. REST WELL. Adoja Attah Igala …

Ede!!!

Itodo Ali Ojoacheun The only hope of Igala Nation. You left us without notice; we never expected it at the point of our hard earned victory. Why at this point? We waited in the sun to hear your acceptance speech but it was the

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ONLINE CONDOLENCE MESSAGES news of your death we heard. Oh our own Prince, why at the point of victory? Oh our own prince when we heard you resurrected only Allah knew our joy but very unfortunate it was not true oh our prince our pride even in the grave you are better than those rejoicing over your death your legacy can never be forgotten you gave us Education, Hospital, Road and above all my home town Imane got electricity by prince Oh our Pride may Allah grant you aljena Firdausi Momoh Isah Muhammed O Allah, we cannot argue with your decision. The death of Prince Abubakar Audu is a big lesson to all of us. How many of us can people receive like our prince? We miss you uncle, Prince Abubakar Audu, may Allah grant you peace in your grave. We cannot find your type in this generation yet.

Aduh Salisu The death of Prince ABUBAKAR AUDU has created vacuum which is difficult to fill in the entire political, social and developmental strides in Kogi state. You died in process of liberating Kogites from political bondage. We love you, we miss you but GOD loves you most. We have prayed and we will continue in prayer for GOD to grant you eternity. We are from GOD unto GOD shall we return. Once again rest in perfect peace.

Thomas Yahaya Your death is a great loss to Kogi state especially the entire Igala land. The vacuum you left cannot be filled with anybody for now. Rest in peace Adoja the great politician of our time. We miss you.

Mohammed Usman Too early to quit Prince Abubakar Audu. The First and Second Executive Governor of our Dear Kogi State and the Pioneer initiator of our own state tertiary institutions; Kogi State University, Anyigba and Kogi State Polytechnic Lokoja. In his Words “Our Commitment to the Development of Education Sector is Unshakable as education remains the greatest Legacy we can bequeath our Children”.

Education is Power and Light for generations to benefit. Rest in Peace Prince of Niger Abdullahi Suleiman Otiwe When a Boabab tree falls, no Iroko around it can forever remain unaffected. Indeed the fall of NigerPrince has left the whole Kogites in a lurch. But as the train pass by, time will keep the track fresh like his death in our minds.

- (KSU, Anyigba student) Omar N. Jnr The Agony of Life. You came, you saw and you conquered. Your death was a loss to Kogi and beyond. You lived a fulfilled life and your name is written in gold. Your beneficiaries and benefactors were thrown off balanced on your last day on earth,

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Monday Yahaya The death of Prince Abubakar Audu is like a dream to me until. Death is inevitable. From ALLAH we come surely we will return to Him. The entire Igala and Kogi as a whole are mourning you because of the legacies you left behind. May Almighty Allah grant the family fortitude to bear the loss. May Allah grant him Aljena Firdausi (Amin) Ismail Dollaman We will forever keep on loving you for the love you have for Igala kingdom and for Nigeria. May your soul rest in peace. May Allah grant you a place in Jana’at.

Ugbede Ben Ademu Prince Abubakar Audu to me is best described as a man of all season, gender and religion; in fact, a worthy son of his family and Igala in particular. We lost you to the cold hands of death as at the time your service(s) is mostly needed. Only God knows the true cause of your demise but we (Igala) will continue to mourn you until your kind/type is found.

Rest on Ad’oja ... Edeeeeeee!!!

Michael Baba Prince Abubakar Audu’s death was a great lost to all sons and daughters of kogi state. Audu’s landmark achievements are obvious to the entire Kogites. He left a good legacy and died in victory, may his gentle soul rest in peace.

Abah Isaiah The architect of the modern Kogi. You left us when we needed you most, we cannot question your passing away, God knows better. One thing I know is that your death would further unite the Igala nation not minding the present predicament. Adieu the Prince of the Niger.

Tijay Bala Adoja may your soul rest in perfect peace. You are a great man even at death. A role model to your generation and the unborn, you will always be remembered. For the role you played on earth, you are incomparable.

Onyemaechi Emmanuel Michael Ojobo THE GREAT ADOJA! The man of the people, am short of words to your departure to the world beyond. Still I must not take that as an excuse not to honour a man like you, I could remember vividly while at QIC Primary and Secondary School Ogugu the last Aishat Bello It is with grieved heart that I drop this piece. Oh death, you walked in and stealthily took away our legend! Death is inevitable. Your demise was a shock to Kogites. We love you but Allah loves you most.

You are a patriotic democrat with solid foresight to salvage the people of Kogi state. May Allah (SAW) give the grieved family and Kogi state the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. May Allah brighten

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ONLINE CONDOLENCE MESSAGES your grave, grant you eternal rest and make jenatul Firdausi be your final abode. Adieu, Adoja!

Vera Ocheje Prince Abubakar Audu - Adoja, you came, you saw and you conquered. You will remain ever green in the hearts of Nigerians. Good night my Governor.

Ahmadu Hajiya Fatima From Allah we came to Him We shall return. Your death came as surprise and unbelievable to all of us in the globe not only the people of Kogi. Our Hero, your death make every one of us to fall sick, lost concentration and even confused. The prince of our time we love you, we want you but death is inevitable every soul shall test it all what we have for you is prayer. May Allah have mercy on you, forgive you your shortcomings and grant you paradise and give your family and people of Kogi state the hearts to bear this great lost. Rest in peace Agbo Gabriel Ateko-ojo Letter to the prince. Our prince, your prince, my prince. Dear Sir, your memory can never be eradicated. We were left with pains, sorrow and tears.

Your footprint is everywhere in the state. We love you but God loves you most. We pray your good work will be emulated.

Mustapha Sule May Allah grant you Aljanat Firdausi. The Prince of the Niger! Baba Otogbo! Beacon of hope to the Igala and Kogites. The Man who came, saw all, achieved and conquered. Your death is a big blow to Igala kingdom.

Who are we left with to champion our course except God? Adieu ADOJA ATTAH IGALA! Barnabas Oguche Akpa You fought for Kogites and the Igala at large, you were known as hard working man, and even when you were elected as Governor of the state you did marvellously. My question now is that who will play the role of Adoja in kogi state and the Igalaland? The best dressing Governor. Rest in peace my Prince (Baba Otogbo).

Usman Abubakar The prince of Igalaland, I admired you my prince you are my mentor. I will always remember you in my heart. May your soul rest in perfect peace amen!!!

Comr. Omale Martins Adaji My mentor, you have never disappointed your people in Kogi state and Nigeria as large your death was so sudden and shocking, you left when we needed you the most only God knows why. Rest in peace Adoja – Edeee!

Michael Achor Joshua Your death reminds me of Michael Jackson who became even more popular at death. Your popularity soar so high, hmmm! There was news about your resurrection that spread like California wild fire, Sir,

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there was jubilation as the people celebrated your second coming oooh. Alas it was just rumors. For me it’s a great loss, just few days after your journey to the beyond, Igala kingdom is been shortchanged. Who will bell the cat for us? Rest on the prince of the great Niger.

Daniel Edogbo Ephraim The news of your death hit me hard. I just can’t believe u are gone. You were selfless, courageous and put the life of your people above yours. Good night Prince Abubakar Audu, your legacies are far reaching.

Hajara Jibril The Prince of the Niger, obe edo attah A’akiliwo, we love you but your Creator loves you more that’s why the Almighty took you out of this sinful world at this critical time when our dear state need you more than ever but we can’t question His authority, for t...See More Ibrahim Ikoh Salihu I was shocked the moment I heard of your death, and I am still in that condition till this time. Igala servant, the man of the people, we miss you. May your soul rest in peace.

Eleojo V. Abbah Sadiq The big Iroko tree, the giant of Igala land, the great warrior of Kogi state. You came, you fought and you conquered. If only the cold hands of death had spared your life to achieve your desire for the people of Kogi state, but who are we to question The Almighty God, The Giver and Taker of life; The One who holds Kogi state in His hands. RIP ADOJA! RIP OUR PRINCE!! RIP OUR GOVERNOR!!!

Obaje Achile Audu, your death really touched the people of Kogi state most especially the APC supporters, the birds of the air cried over your death. If it were to donate life, many of your supporters would have volunteered to do so for you to come back to existence. Rest in peace is very hard to say! Bye bye the icon of justice, peace and development till meet were we depart no more.

Egwu Adegbe You will continue to remain in the heart of Kogites Salif Abdullah Your death was a shock to all Kogites, you will forever be remembered for your outstanding performance in the state. Love you, the Prince of Niger, Rest in perfect peace.

Aloji Mustapha You were an icon of Igala race. Continue to rest in peace, our dear Prince of Niger.

Chris U John PAA, among those that can take Kogi to the promise land you are number one, but death took you away

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ONLINE CONDOLENCE MESSAGES at a very important time that we need you. you are a lover of development, growth and progress, hmmmmm, adieu PAA, RIP. Tears…

Idris S. Philip Good night, good night the Prince of Niger, Adoja of Igala. PRINCE departs from earth never truly leaves, for ADOJA is still alive in our hearts and minds, through us, he lives on. Our prince will not be forgotten. It is the will of God and Nature that these mortal bodies be laid aside, when the soul is to enter into real life; It’s rather an embryo state, a preparation for living; a man is not completely born until he be dead: Why then should we grieve that a new child is born among the immortals? REST IN PEACE ADUOJA Sule Abdullahi The Lion of Niger, a man of character whose characteristics have laid an enormous legacies on Kogites and its political affairs. Your legacies will forever live on in the memories of Kogites. You fought an uncommon battle and left as a great hero.

Your legacies shall be relayed to the generations unborn. May Almighty Allah grant you Aljanat and immortalize your legacies.

Bukeri Umar Indeed you are a hero, you ended up well. Leave this wicked world for those that think they will remain for ever, their end shall be hard I know. Rest in peace, all your shortcomings shall be forgiven insh Allah amin shuma amin.

Jabo Arome Friday Ocheje I felt sick when I heard you passed on Sir. A very humble friend to late JABO, The PREMIER PRINCIPAL then. Sir, may the Angels show mercy on you IJN Okpanachi Enyojo Blessing Our own prince, our own leader who will be that courageous like you in Igala land again. Your death brought us in ogugu land so much tears, we have lost all hope. Our only joy is your work will speak for you till eternity. Rest well our own pride of Igala .Prince Abubakar Audu Oyidi – Adoja!!!

Moses Joseph Adejoh Rest in peace the political gladiator. It is big lost to Nigeria not even Kogi state.

Monday Graham Ojodomo Your death to me will forever remain unbelievable, you died at the time we found no one worthy enough to take Kogi state to its right height. We all miss you Adoja, rest in peace sir.

Sumaila Idakwoji You came, you saw, you conquered. Rest on Adoja, the lion of the Niger. Adieu my prince.

Atoki Dare You came, you saw and conquered, Adieu and rest in peace Mr. Governor

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Hon Abubakar Sadiq Adama Adoja, we are in deep sorrow over your death. When we remember your handwork and dedication to your people tears drop from our eyes. It has been stated before us that to Him Allah we come from and to Him Allah alone we shall all return. Adoja, we love you, we need you but Allah loves you most. Rest in the presence of Allah till we meet hereafter then depart no more.

Abduljalal Bala May your gentle soul rest in perfect peace the leader of Igala land.

Francis Kadiri Prince Audu was to Kogi what Tinubu is to Lagos. He was an iconic political figure not only in Kogi state but the entire country. Rest in peace, Adoja.

Ibrahim Yakubu Odu Wola ukolo. People prefer you because you have demonstrated a high level of administrative competence and you still have the passion to do it for Kogi and Nigeria but God has decided. To my people of Kogi east please let us accept what God has done for us through this man as favour and remain grateful to God too for the way Audu left us for He knows best. Let’s not say or do anything that will undermine the power of God. We might get something unpleasant by blaming ourselves and others over what God has done. May Allah have mercy on the soul of prince Audu and guide d rest of us that are still living. We will miss u greatly Maji Friday Our prince, the man that Kogi state will never recover from the shock of his exit from this wicked world that hate good things. Rest on my Prince Bashir Egboje Omakoji Ishaq The man who believed that dividends of Democracy is development, Rest in peace till we meet to Part no more.

Emmanuel Ameh Adoja you came, you saw and you conquered.

Your death is a great loss to Nigerian politics and especially to the people of Igala land and all Kogites.

The vacuum you left cannot be filled by anybody for now. We pray God should raise another person to take Kogites to the promise land. R.I.P ADOJA Yakub Safiya The Prince of Igala nation. I remember what you told us when came to Ankpa but you are no more. Death took you away from us, we are hopeless, speechless, Adoja you are irreplaceable. Oh Ankpa we have lost someone who gives us hope, now the hope is gone also and you know what Adoja, just yesterday that you left us Kogi state is in confusion. May Almighty Allah grant you Aljanat Firdausi my mentor

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ONLINE CONDOLENCE MESSAGES Alidu Musa Bature Our dear hero. We missed you beyond imagination.

You left good legacy behind which is my happiness.

Your good name is in the lips of every Nigerians. God will reward your soul and your soul will In sha Allah RIP. Our dear Hero Adoja Ibrahim Muhanuwar You died as great fighter, you came, you saw and you conquered. We will always miss your love and your leadership. May Allah grant your soul Aljanna Firdausi.

Jimoh Abdulazeez Rest in peace the great man of our time may God forgive you all your sins.

Ibrahim Bala Okeh The prince of the Niger, prince of Igala land, my mentor, hero, we will never forget you. We all love you but God Almighty loves you more. May Almighty Allah grant u aljannatu Firdausi. R.I.P Enegbani Aboojoko Idah Adoja, you came, saw and conquered. A true scion of Ayegba Oma Idoko. Continue to rest in peace, prince of the confluence.

Peter Adejoh Adoja’s demise cannot be erased from the mind of sons and daughters of Kogi state. R.I.P the great Man of the Niger.

Mike Moses Djmini You are a great pillar in Kogi state n beyond, but no one can question death. Rest in peace.

Usman Haruna We have lost a very colourful politician and the substitute difficult to find. Sleep well prince of the Niger.

Highbred Ahmed Those who are supporters of the heroes and liberators until their death are also heroes and liberators. Am thankful to God I was one of Achema’s supporters then and one of yours today. May your spirit be there for the state in this conundrum and may you win up there as you won here on earth before your final journey of no return.

Saleh Alih Adoja, your death came as a surprise to all Kogites, But it is only Almighty Allah that knows why your death is now, May your gentle soul rest in perfect Peace, Ameen yarabi?

Otu Alhaji M Sir, Late Adoja, Prince, Alhaji Abubakar Audu indeed you are a great leade. Your death came as a shock!

May Almighty Allah reward you with Aljanant Firdausi Amin Rashidat Sumaila Am even short of words, may your soul rest in Aljenat, and may God bring somone like you to stand for us in Kogi state if not …hummmmmm. Adoja may God reward your kindness Ojochide Momoh Oguche Words alone cannot quantify how I feel over your death, but I know that Almighty Allah loves you most.

May Aljanat Firdausi be your final abode. Ameen Abdullahi Siaka Sky Your demise came to us as a shock and when we need you most. But there is a popular saying; don’t be angry if Allah has taken your love from you, it’s for a reason. R.I.P Adoja Hassan Hassan kullu nafsin zaa’ikotul maut. May his gentle soul rest in peace and may Allah give us all d fortitude to bear d great loss.

Idris Momoh The lion of Africa, the dogged fighter, icon of liberty, political bulldozer in Kogi state R. I. P Ebiloma Nats Achile You did your part for Kogi state and left the rest for the living. We believe God would raise someone who would have the interest of the people at heart.

Wishing you goodbye!

Hassan Yusuf Cln Adieu Adoja... We love you. Every soul must test death. I pray Igala will be united

Agene Clement Adejoh Our daddy, Daddy general, people said that you are Ada oja of the entire State, on behalf of Ogbonicha BOYS/GIRLS, as youths we are saying thank you for your commitment to make us proud of your good works, torching people’s lives. Kogites are saying thank you. We may not value what we have until it’s lost. All sons and daughters of Ogbonicha are mourning. We cry and pray God to grant you eternal rest. Good night.

Edegbai Eric Ebosetale Emily Your Sun sets on the day of your glory. Rest in peace dear. Great Audu.

Moses Boyi The dogged fighter! We Kogites shall continue to mourn your departure. Rest on, ADOJA

Enema John The prince of the Niger, we loved you but God loves you most, continue to rest in the bosom of God.

Usman Baba Okenyi Waooo! Prince Abubakar Audu we love you, God loves you most. Rest in peace.

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ONLINE CONDOLENCE MESSAGES Suleiman Aliyu May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace. May Allah SWT give the family the fortitude to bear the great loss. Amin David Aduojo Audu You came, you participated, and you conquered!

You left a shoe so big that, it might be difficult to get someone to fill, like a colossus, you bestride the political and social life of your people, you only left, cause you live on in the minds of your people!!!!

Prince Bellydeen The first Executive Governor in Kogi State …He is a hero, winninq the election to death, May he rest in peace.

Mohammed Abubakar Your death is a great loss to Igala kingdom. RIP Adoja mi...

Yusuf Alih Yusuf Adoja, You left us when we need you most. May your gentle soul rest in perfect peace.

Emmanuel Sunday Etila We love you not because of what others say about you but because we are witnesses to the records you created. They are there even for the unborn children to see. We miss you when we needed you most. We love you but God loves you most. Rest on...

James Eneojo Great icon and hero of our time we lost you the time we need you most. Continue to rest in peace.

Job Omiachi Words cannot describe how dearly we will miss you.

You came, you fought and you won. What a victory?

Adieu Adoja!!!

belt, the prince of the Niger.

Yahaya Aliyu ADOJA, may ALLAH grant you eternal rest. May Allah in his infinite mercy be with your children.

Haruna Musa Innalililahi wa innailaihinrajiun, Adoja, there is time for everything, time to be born, time to live and time to die, may Allah forgive you all your misdeeds and grant you paradise.

Wada James It just like a dream to me that Adoja (Ede) and prince of our time is late. Oh my God death, WHY prince?

Ibrahim Achem Okpe Our beloved leader you are greatly missed, you departed at a time we needed you most but Allah knows best, may Allah forgive your shortcomings, show you His grace and mercy and grant you Aljanah Firdausi. Ameen Idoko Adejoh RIP, all Ogugu daughters and Sons will forever miss you, rest in peace man of people. I sign my condolence.

Mohammad Abubakar Note, When we lose all helps and think it’s THE END, Allah smiles and said “It’s just a BEND not THE END”.

ALLAH is our peace.

Muhammed Lawal Adah Rest in peace baba Audu we are missing a lot but Allah knows best of your death. May our Lord, Almighty Allah grant you aljannatu Firdausi.

Idris Audu May your gentle soul continue to rest in perfect peace with abundant of alkauthar!

Tijani Adejoh O Allah verily so and so, ABUBAKAR Son of AUDU is in your custody, holding to the rope that would take him close to you, shelter him from the trial of the grave and the punishment of hellfire, you are the one worthy of fulfilling the promises.

Rachel Onoja You played a vital role in the development of Ogugu, we had hope things will change in our favour but God knows best. May your soul rest in peace.

Ibrahim Abdulkadir Audu’s demise is shocking and this vacuum could only be filled by God Almighty. May Allah grant his soul Aljannatu Firdausi Amin.

Adejo Yakubu The great man of our time. Your legacy will always be remembered. RIP the prince of middle belt.

Yusuf Suleiman Enigma, your death seems to many. Your lost is painful to Kogi state. It’s a disaster. Your kind seems hard to come by soon.

Blessing Jacob The Prince of the Niger, The news of your death came as a rude shock but who are we to question the Most High God when we know He has the final say? Your legacies will never be forgotten. You are a great hero and everybody liked you. May your soul rest in peace Asaju Moses Christopher Good night prince Abubakar Audu. Lion of the middle

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Mahadi Isah May his soul R.I.P. Igala kingdom has lost someone again the way we lost Dr. Stephen Makoji Achema.

What a great loss? Hmmmmm!!! Allah knows the best for us.

Yusuf Akpai Adam Adoja (servant, father of the masses) you have tried

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ONLINE CONDOLENCE MESSAGES your best as a community leader, as a commissioner, as a Governor. May your soul Rest in Peace.

Abdullahi Omale May Almighty Allah grant you paradise we love you but God loves you the most.

Abubakar Adoja Dauda My mentor, my hero, the father of all Kogites, I will forever miss you. Rest in peace Isah E. Samson May God have mercy on your soul and forgive all your shortcomings, also your death is a lesson for all; do good only

Joe Moses-Green Truly a saviour who couldn’t save himself. You stood larger than life alive, and much more even in death.

Rest on ...better place you are!

Mohammed Shuaib Adoja has gone. I bet you his legacy lives...

James Oboni Ocheje So suddenly the earth quaked and the great was entrenched. God’s grace be with your soul, Prince Abubakar Audu.

Sylvanus Domo Anawo You came, you fought and conquered. RIP my hero

Ibrahim Usman RIP baba Igala, aljannatu Firdausi is the perfect place for you, enjoy all the good work you did while in this whole world.

Amin Sule Mameh The epitome of unity and icon of development is gone, the only iroko of Igala land is gone, sleep well My Mentor.

Alih Shaibu You left an indelible mark on the soil of our state, Adoja RIP

Ayokhai Odiodior Great man that reminded the nation what is missing in electoral laws.

Hassan Racheal Adoja you left us when we needed you the most ...Rest on.

Attah Kashim There is time for everything, am happy God uses you for the benefit of others and thanks for your selfless service to humanity. May your hereafter be better than the life you lived on this earth. Rest well Papa Audu.

Abdullahi Sharia Umar Adoja, you’re not perfect but you have left a significant record in Kogi state. A record yet to be beaten by anyone. May the good Lord reward your efforts. Good night!

Ernest Jaypee Hmm. I still can’t believe he is gone. Rest on prince.

Abdulraheem Idris He is the most outstanding leader in the entire Kogi state politically. May ALLAH forgive him his sins and make aljana as his final abode, ameen.

Isaiah Iko-ojo Friday May his Gentle Soul Rest under the Bosom of God Ismaila A. Aruwa Abubakar Audu, the Prince of Niger. Nigeria missed you, Kogi state missed you but the IGALA NATION missed the most. Rest In Perfect Peace.

Yakubu Yankee Isah There are things that we don’t want to happen but have to accept, things we don’t want to know but have to learn, and people we can’t live without but have to let go. What I feel right now is so hard to put into words. I will miss you more than words can say … continue to rest in peace Sir.

Salisu Isah You are a hero of democracy. RIP Adoja.

Faith Idachaba Fagoyinbo Indeed a great Iroko has fallen, what can we say? God has the final say. Journey well our dogged fighter and hero. You are greatly missed. Adoja.

Esther Okabichi Nice man Princess Unekwuojo It sounds so unbelievable. Adoja, your gap can never be filled ADEIU BABA OJA BYE Abubakar Isiaka Adoja, adieu. Please, Kogi state government, I humbly request Audu should be immortalized.

Christopher Enemona Simon Heroes don’t die. Adoja, everything about your existence and death remain mysterious. We wish you wait a little longer to fix the damages in our state, Kogi. However, may you rest in the Lord your God. Rest on Adoja 1 of Africa.

Musa Haruna Adoja, you left us with regret. I pray aljannatu Firdausi will be your last reward

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Arise Igala-Issue 28

OGUGU U

N

ED IT

OUF

Ogugu Miss You,

ADOJA

The pain of a loving and caring mother Who can decipher it over the loss of an outstanding son?

Only a mother can tell.

Your demise brought untold pain to your mother.

Adoja Attah Igala You made your mark while with us You proved to be a worthy son that every mother will forever be proud of This is your mother’s consolation now that you are no more Your mother wished you are here forever To always fulfill her desires for your people and the community at large But your Creator allowed your passage to the world beyond Your memories your mother will keep forever Your mother, Ogugu will miss you forever

Rest In Peace!

Signed:

ADEJOH ODINIYA

National Secretary for OGUGU UNITED FRONT

Arise Igala-Issue 28

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