Saraki to Ocholi’s children: Be strong and uphold your father’s legacies; Gov. Ikpeazu condoles family

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has told the four surviving children of late Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, James Ocholi – Ojome, Aaron, Blessing and Elle – to remain strong and work towards sustaining the good legacies that the late Senior Advocate left behind.
Saraki, who led a 16-man delegation of the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly to the Abdulrahman Mora Street, Kado, Abuja home of the late Minister of State said Ocholi was a hardworking and devoted family man who worked alongside late Abubakar Audu to take the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the nooks and crannies of Kogi State.
A statement by Yusuph Olaniyonu, (SA Media and Publicity to the Senate President), quoted Dr. Saraki as saying “We worked closely together during the teething days of the APC having come from the same North Central zone. He did a great job and demonstrated his brilliance, dedication and commitment. Now he is gone. We cannot question God. He sets his own time for all of us “, the Senate President said in his short but emotion-laden speech.
He promised that the close associates of the late minister will not forget the family and that they will continue to support the family. The Senate President also prayed to God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss and move forward.
While writing in the condolence register, he described Ocholi as “a committed party man” and prayed to God to grant him, his late wife and son, eternal rest”.
A Personal Assistant to the late Minister, Dr. Hammond, who spoke on behalf of the family said that it was true that Ocholi had a personal relationship with the Senate President as both men worked hard to entrench the APC in North Central zone.
He thanked the Senate on behalf of the family for deeming it fit to pass a resolution and follow it up with a visit.
Earlier the Senate had passed a resolution moved by Senator Dino Melaye urging it to observe a minute silence in honour of the deceased persons, urged the federal government to immortalise Ocholi, prayed the Kogi State Government to grant scholarship to the children still in school and finally send a delegation to condole with the family.

On his part, the Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, sent his condolences to the children and family of the Minister of the late Ocholi, who, together with his wife and son, died in a fatal motor accident on Sunday.
The Governor said he received the sad news with shock and wondered how the remaining children of the minister will live the rest of their lives without their parents.
A statement by Godwin Adindu, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, said
“I want to express my heartfelt sympathy to the family of Ocholi and the good people of Kogi State for this pain and sorrow they will have to bear.”
He described the incident as an unfortunate tragedy coming at a time when Nigeria needed to benefit from the accumulated wisdom of the legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
The governor also condoled with his Kogi counterpart, Governor Yahaya Bello, for losing such an illustrious subject and worthy ambassador of his State.
He prayed God to give Ocholi’s family and the people of Kogi the fortitude to bear the irreparable lost.