•President Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday expressed shock and sadness over the death of the Minister.
Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, described Ocholi’s death as “untimely”, regretting that Nigeria has lost a key component of the change agenda.
“Barrister Ocholi was an accomplished and patriotic Nigerian, who was keen to accept the call to service at a time his country needed him,” President Buhari said.
He said that the late minister of state in the few months he had been in office had already begun to distinguish himself through his commitment to his portfolio.
President Buhari also condoled with the government and people of Kogi State, who he described as having lost a distinguished and irreplaceable son.
He prayed that God would comfort them and grant them the grace to bear the loss.
“The entire country mourns the loss of this great man, who has sadly left us when we need him most,” he said.
President Buhari has sent Secretary to the Government of the Federation David Babachir Lawal to convey the news to members of the late minister’s family and parishioners in his place of worship.
The National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said it received the news with great shock and sadness.
The APC National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni in a condolence message described his death as a monumental loss.
Buni prayed for the recovery of those injured in the accident, including the late minister’s wife and driver.
The APC National Secretary said the late Ocholi, who was the party’s Deputy National Legal Adviser, will be remembered for his selfless service.
While extending his condolences to the people and government of Kogi State, Buni prayed to Almighty God to grant Ocholi’s immediate family the fortitude to bear the painful loss.
The Kaduna state government has expressed deep shock over the incident.
The government in a statement by spokesman to governor Nasir El-Rufai, Mr. Samuel Aruwan said the incident was devastating.
“The state government extends its heartfelt condolences to President Mohammadu Buhari and the Ocholi family.
“Our condolences goes to members of the Federal Executive Council and the entire nation, the minister died at a critical time when his contributions in the ongoing national rebirth and realisation of the change mantra are needed.
“May the almighty God grant their souls eternal rest” the statement said.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, in a press statement from the media office, described the late Ocholi as: “a wise and brilliant man, who was expected to impact significantly on the Buhari administration and the lives of Nigerians in many positive ways”.
Atiku lamented that the nation has lost a committed professional whose place in his profession, political party and the budding administration, would be hard to fill.
The statement urged those who knew the deceased, notably President Buhari, his colleagues at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the generality of Nigerians to take heart.
Atiku also prayed for the repose of his soul, and for the quick recovery of his beloved wife and driver, who survived the accident.
The former Vice President urged the bereaved family to take consolation in the fact that the late Ocholi was a much-beloved person, and an achiever whose contribution to nation-building and his community would not be easily forgotten.
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