The remains of the late All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Kogi State was Monday laid to rest at his country home in Ogbonicha-Alloma, Ofu Local Government Area of the state.
Audu, who is also a former governor of the state, was the frontrunner in last Saturday’s governorship election in the state, died Saturday as the ballot was being declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He had secured 240,867 votes as against the 199,514 votes garnered by Governor Idris Wada, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but the cancelled votes outweighed the margin of victory.
Audu was buried at about 1:50 p.m. in the presence of a mammoth crowd who earlier insisted that he was alive after a rumour spread that he was resurrected after some prayer warriors had prayed over his body. There was heavy security presence, with imams leading the burial rites with prayers, the report said.
Dignitaries present at the interment included; former governors George Akume of Benue, Abdulkadir Kure of Niger, Lucky Igbinedion of Edo and Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano. Senator Dino Melaye was also reportedly present to pay his last respect to the departed former governor of Kogi, as well as several other dignitaries.
This is as the Governors of Sokoto, Anambra and Kwara States joined the many others who have been mourning the late politician.
In separate statements they expressed their condolences to the family and people of Kogi State over the death of Prince Abubakar.
Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State enjoined family members and supporters of Prince Audu ‘to take heart and consider the death of the respected politician as an act of God that can happen to all mortals at their appointed time.’
In a statement issued by his spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, Gov. Tambuwal described Audu’s death as shocking.
He said the deceased lived a life of service and that his concern for the unity, stability and progress of Kogi remained unshakable until his last breath.
The Governor, therefore, equally prayed to God to ‘grant Audu eternal rest, and his family the fortitude to bear the loss.’
On his part, the Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed described as ‘painful and very shocking,’ the demise of Audu Abubakar.
Governor Ahmed in a condolence message commiserated with the Government and people of Kogi State on the death of former banker, saying: “It is particularly painful that Nigerians, especially the people of Kogi State have lost the services of Alhaji Abubakar Audu who was on the verge of being re-elected as the governor of Kogi State, going by the results of the election declared so far by INEC.
“It is however note worthy that the political history of Kogi State will be incomplete without a chapter on the contributions of Late Abubakar Audu to the democratic and infrastructural development of Kogi state”, Ahmed said.
Dr Ahmed noted that late Governor Audu had played his part in the political annals of Nigeria before leaving the world on a high note as a man popularly loved by his people as the results of the last gubernatorial election in Kogi, so far, has shown.
Chief Willie Obiano of Anambra state on his part, described the passage of Prince Audu, as a huge loss to Nigeria, saying that the former governor of Kogi State who had dominated politics in the state for over a decade died when Nigeria needed his wisdom and experience most.
In a statement signed by James Eze, Senior Special Assistant on Media, Governor Obiano expressed his deepest condolences to the Audu family, the people of Kogi State and the members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the sudden passage of the former governor who was a top contender in last Saturday’s gubernatorial election in Kogi State.
Obiano who expressed shock at the sudden demise of the frontline politician further observed that “Prince Audu personified the political struggles of his people for quality governance all through his life, leaving an indelible mark on the memory of the people that the future generation will strive to emulate.”
According to him, Prince Audu “gave politics as much as he got from it in equal measure; playing by the book and rising through the finest traditions of democracy to become a beacon of hope for the masses of Kogi people. He was consumed by the passion to serve and make the world a better place for the Kogi people. He never quite got tired of trying to make a difference in their lives. He died in the very attempt to make a difference. Audu will be sorely missed by everyone who loves democracy and all lovers of humanity,” he concluded
Governor Obiano consequently urged the members of his family, the people of Kogi State and the members of APC to take heart as Audu’s death was not only their loss but a serious set-back for Nigeria’s nascent democracy.
He prayed that God would give his family, his shell-shocked supporters, the APC leadership and members as well as the great people of Kogi State the fortitude to bear the heavy loss of Prince Abubakar Audu.
