TheNewsGuru

Tag: Mourns

  • Odumakin dedicated his life for Nigeria’s development-PDP

    Odumakin dedicated his life for Nigeria’s development-PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party has expressed shock over the demise of popular rights activist, and National Publicity Secretary of pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin.

    The PDP in a statement by its Spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, described the death of Odumakin as an enormous loss to the nation and mainly, the PDP.

    The party acknowledged Odumakin’s learned contributions to national dialogue and relentless commitment towards the development of democratic ethos in the country.

    Part of the statement read, “Odumakin was consistently focused in fighting for a nation in which the principles of equity, fairness and justice will thrive in every sphere of our national life.

    “He dedicated his life as a journalist, human right activist and social crusader for improvement in every phase of the live in our country.

    “Indeed, if Yinka Odumakin had the last pint of blood in his vein and there was a need to drop same for democracy to be strengthened in our country, he would have readily made it available.

    “Our party commiserates with his dear wife, Joe, who has also remained steadfast in fighting for human right, good governance, credible elections as well as justice, especially for the downtrodden.

    “The PDP also condoles with the larger Odumakin family, the Afenifere fold as well as the civil society community while offering prayers to God to grant our nation the fortitude to bear this huge loss.”

     

  • Gbajabiamila, Sanwo-Olu, others mourn former Lagos military governor, Ndubuisi Kanu

    Gbajabiamila, Sanwo-Olu, others mourn former Lagos military governor, Ndubuisi Kanu

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has expressed sadness over the passing of a former military governor of Lagos State, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Godwin Kanu (Rtd).

    Similarly, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu also expressed expressed sadness over the death of the chairman of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).

    Gbajabiamila, said Kanu who passed on at the age of 77 would be remembered for his commitment to the development of Lagos State and the other states he governed.

    In his condolence message to the late Kanu’s family, Gbajabiamila prayed God to grant the soul of the departed eternal rest.

    He added that the deceased was a patriotic Nigerian who played a role in the making of Lagos state.

    On his part, Sanwo-Olu in a condolence message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, described the late Kanu as a complete gentleman and officer, saying the former military administrator contributed immensely to the development of Lagos State during his short tenure of office.

    The Governor praised the late Rear Admiral Kanu’s contribution to the country’s democracy, especially his fight, alongside the progressive elements in the country during the dark days of the military junta for the enthronement of constitutional democracy in Nigeria.

    Sanwo-Olu said the nation would miss the rich experience and knowledge of the late Naval Officer and democrat.

    He said: “On behalf of the Government and people of Lagos State, I want to express my sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and comrades of late Ndubuisi Kanu as well as the Nigerian Navy, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the country in general.

    “As one of Nigeria’s advocates of good governance, restructuring and true federalism, the late Ndubusi Kanu will be sorely missed by the people.The death of Rear Admiral Kanu is a colossal loss to the country. He made lots of positive impact and contribution during his lifetime to the growth and development of Lagos State and Nigeria. He fought, along with several other patriots tirelessly for a united Nigeria during his days in the Nigerian Navy as well as a member of a pro-democracy group after he retired from service.

    “He wrote his name in gold as a tireless fighter and an advocate of democratic government. He played a leading role as chieftain of NADECO in the agitation for the actualisation of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election and return of civilian government in May 29, 1999.We must ensure that the people enjoy the dividend of democracy, which the late Ndubuisi Kanu and other heroes and heroines of democracy in Nigeria fought for. Development must touch the lives of the people directly. This is the best way to immortalise the late Ndubuisi Kanu because this is virtue he lived for,” Sanwo-Olu stated.

    We have lost a vibrant progressive -Afenifere

    The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, described the death of the former ilitary governor as a huge loss to Nigeria.

    The National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Mr Yinka Odumakin, said: “It was a very painful death.

    “We have lost a very ebullient, vibrant and progressive someone.

    “There is nothing we can do than to accept the will of God.

    “He has lived a fulfilled life and dedicated his life to good causes for which we shall always remember him. May his soul rest in peace and may God protect all that he left behind.”

    Ndubuisi Kanu is a fighter for greater Nigeria -Chief Guy Ike Ikokwu

    Chief Guy Ike Ikokwu (Omenife), Solicitor and Grand Patron Ohanaeze, Lagos State described the deceased as a fighter for greater Nigeria .

    His words: “Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu was a fighter for the core values of a greater Nigeria and devoted his time to bridge the gap between all our Ethnic nationalities no matter where they came from. Because of his devotion to our common bondages he was one of the few Nigerians who governed two states Imo and Lagos. He fought for the return of Democracy and Civil Rights of Citizens as a Nadeco Leader even when some had chickened out. He was a Frontline Leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and supported the stand of the SSMBLF resoluteness for a Restructured template for Governance system and devololution of powers.

    “The Lagos State Government honoured him with the Ndubuisi Kanu Park at Ikeja. His family structure is evidently intertribal. We had consultations with him on ways to difuse the alarming rate of insecurities and economic degradation with our new rating of the economic capital of the poor !! When I was unable to speak with him as he was out of Lagos in the last two weeks, I was bewildered and proceeded to Imo State for our Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Confab to fathom a new template for a resolution of our existential precepts in our Clime. On our return to Lagos State we just found the Calamitous Realities of our New World Order Unraveling Exponentially with his demise and movement to the Galactic World Zones Beyond !!! We all wish him bon voyage to the Infinitesimal zones beyond. May his Gentle Soul ”

    Key things to know about Ndubuisi Kanu

    Rear Admiral Kanu was an accomplished military officer having had a successful tenure in the Nigerian Naval Command.

    A graduate of National Defence Academy, India, he served in various leadership positions both in core naval postings and in special assignments.

    He was a Member of the Supreme Military Council (1975 – 1976), first Military Governor of Imo State (1976 – 1977), Military Governor of Lagos State (1977 – 1978), Member of the Supreme Military Council (1978 –1979), Member of the Armed Forces Ruling Council, AFRC (1986 – 1989), Member of Special Committee on Review of the Report of the Political Bureau (1988) and Chairman of Special AFRC Committee on Creation of Local Governments. He retired honourably in October 1990 and is presently a Maritime Consultant.

  • Buhari mourns Walter Carrington, calls him long time friend of Nigeria

    Buhari mourns Walter Carrington, calls him long time friend of Nigeria

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the demise of former United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Walter Carrington, describing him as a “long time friend of Nigeria and an astute and courageous diplomat.”

    The Nigerian leader made his feelings known in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Buhari, in a tribute, praised the late ambassador whom he said “openly supported the people of this country when they fought for the return of democracy following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections won by the late Moshood Abiola.”

    ”The story of the Nigerian democracy under the Fourth Republic will not complete without a mention of the heroic roles of the likes of Ambassador Carrington.

    “On behalf of my family, the government and people of Nigeria, I commiserate with the family of the deceased, his friends and admirers as well as the government and people of the United States.”

    In July, Buhari had congratulated Carrington on his 90th birthday, recalling the role he played in steering Nigeria back to democracy.

    President Buhari expressed his personal appreciation and that of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the extraordinary support of the Ambassador for democratic causes in Nigeria and around the globe.

    “Thank you, Ambassador Carrington!’’ the president said.

    Carrington, born in 1930 was an American diplomat, who served as the United States Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Senegal and Nigeria.

    He was appointed by U.S. President Bill Clinton in 1993 as the US Ambassador to Nigeria, where he remained until 1997.

    He married a Nigerian medical doctor Arese Ukpoma who announced his death today. Arese is now 62 years old.

  • Lawan mourns Senator Rose Oko

    Lawan mourns Senator Rose Oko

    President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, on Monday said he received with shock the news of the death of Senator Rose Oko, who until her death, was the Chairperson, Senate Committee on Trade and Investment.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Senator Oko, who represented Cross River North Senatorial District at the Senate, died on Monday at a medical facility in the United Kingdom where she was receiving treatment.

    Lawan commiserated with the deceased Senator’s family and the loved ones she left behind.

    The Senate President also condoled with the people and government of Cross River State over this loss.

    Lawan said Senator Oko’s death was a great loss to the Senate and also to Nigerian women in politics.

    The Senate President said that the late Senator will be greatly missed by her Distinguished colleagues in the Ninth Assembly.

    He prayed that the Almighty God will comfort her family and grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.

  • Ambode mourns as elder statesman, Pa Fasinro dies few months to 100th Birthday

    Ambode mourns as elder statesman, Pa Fasinro dies few months to 100th Birthday

    Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state on Sunday expressed sadness over the death of a founding father of the state, Pa Hassan Fasinro.

    Ambode, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Habib Aruna, said Fasinro was one of the greatest founding fathers of Lagos, saying that he was one of the main architects of Lagos.

    Fasinro, a Senator in the Second Republic and the first Clerk of Lagos City Council, passed on at 8:29 p.m. on Sunday after a brief illness.

    He would have clocked 100 years by September.

    “This is a very sad loss, personally for me and for every Lagosian. I was personally looking forward to celebrating Papa at 100 later in September this year, but we cannot question God for calling him at this time.

    “Papa was a hero. He was a father in the true sense of the word. We cannot write the Lagos story without recourse to the roles that he played from the start and from the bottom of our hearts.

    We appreciate the role that he played in building Lagos to what it is today.

    Ambode commiserated with the family of the late elder statesman and urged them to uphold the ideals he stood for.

    He said that the nation would continue to draw inspiration from his life and times.

    “His demise, just like that of our heroes past, must never be in vain. There can be no better time to unite together to achieve a better and more prosperous Nigeria,” he said.

    He said Fasinro paid his dues and had left his footprints on the sands of time.

    “On behalf of the government and people of Lagos State, I want to express our heartfelt condolence to the family of Pa Fasinro on this great and irreparable loss.

    “He was a pride to our country, our state and we will surely miss him,”Ambode said.

  • Buhari mourns former SGF, Gidado Idris

    President Muhammadu Buhari has described the death of former Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF) Gidado Idris, as a big loss to the nation.

    The former SGF died on Friday night in Abuja at the age of 82 after a brief illness.

    Mr. Idris, who hailed from Zaria in Kaduna State, was appointed SGF in 1993 and retired in 1999 after a civil service career that started before Nigeria’s independence.

    The president, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, on Saturday, expressed sadness at the passing on of Mr. Idris.

    He said “being a highly experienced and quintessential technocrat who traversed the different stages of the political evolution of the country, Gidado’s wise counsel will surely be missed.”

    The president added that the deceased, in addition to rising to the pinnacle of his public career as SGF, served several civilian and military administrations meritoriously as federal permanent secretary.

    He said Mr. Gidado left inspiring imprints.

    He, therefore, enjoined current and upcoming civil and public servants to emulate the cherished values of hard work, discipline, professionalism and integrity which the late distinguished nationalist embodied.

    He commiserated with the family and associates of the deceased and prayed that God would comfort them.

    Mr. Idris was buried Saturday at Gudu Cemetery in FCT amid tears and prayers from families and the Muslim community.

    The burial, which was concluded at around 3 p.m., was attended by the Secretary to the Government of Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha and Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, among others.

    NAN

     

  • Niger Govt. declares 3-day mourning, public holiday to honour late Kure

     

    The Niger state government has declared a three day mourning over the death of a former governor of the state, Alhaji (Engr.) Abdulkadir Kure.

    The was made known by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Jonathan Vatsa in a statement in Minna on Sunday.

    He further stated that all flags should be at half staff through out the state during the mourning period.

    According to the Commissioner, Governor Abubakar Bello has also declared a work free day on the day of the burial of the former governor to enable citizens accord the departed leader a befitting burial and respect.

    Vatsa expressed that the government will miss the wise counsel of the former governor, who despite political differences never fail to offer meaningful advice to the present government.

    The intervention of the former governor during the recent labour crisis in the state was not only legendary but showed him as an elder statesman, whose main concern was for the good, progress and unity of the state.

    “Engineer Abdulkadir Abdullahi Kure remained a leader who out of office showed concern for the development of our state.”