LATE YAKOWA BURIED: FRANK UKONGA CONDOLE PRESIDENT JONATHAN AND NIGERIANS ON THE TRAGIC LOSS, CALLS FOR UNITY AND INCLUSIVE GOVERNMENTS ON NATIONAL BASIS

LATE YAKOWA BURIED: FRANK UKONGA CONDOLE PRESIDENT JONATHAN AND  NIGERIANS ON THE TRAGIC LOSS, CALLS FOR UNITY AND INCLUSIVE GOVERNMENTS ON NATIONAL BASIS

Prince Frank Ukonga the SDMP Presidential Aspirant in the 2015 presidential polls condoled with president Goodluck Jonathan on the tragic death of the former Governor of Kaduna state H.E. Patrick Yakowa and also condole with the Governor's forum under the chairmanship of H.E. Rotimi Ameachi and the Secretary General of the Governor's Forum Barrister Asishana Okauru, and the entire peoples of Kaduna State and the families of the deceased military luminaries as well as that of the Former National Security Adviser Major Gen. Azazi. This is a phenomenal tragic loss to the Nigeria Federation and we at SDMP calls advised that this tragedy should not dwindle our determination to journey to the future in creating a Nation based on true equality , Justice , fair play and inclusion policy thrust for all Nigerians irrespective of his or her gender, religion, tribe , ethnicity,and abilities.. these are the greatest virtues that can bond together the nation into one formidable unity that will become extremely great in the next few quartiles of the 21st century if we all unite and move into the future with determination, focus and hard work.

President Goodluck Jonathan, in tributes to  Late Yakowa ,at the burial service held at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, the President described Yakowa as a “bridge builder” who loved his people irrespective of their religion and tribe,President Jonathan described December 15 as a “dark Saturday.”

“Yakowa was a nationalist. He played his roles very well as a civil servant of old, not as a civil servant of today when a director has more houses than Dangote.

“No ethnic or religious divide in his blood,” he said.

The president pledged the continued support of the government to the immediate family of the deceased.

He also appealed to leaders to guard their utterances in public and in private against those things that could divide and destroy the nation.

He urged the senior citizens to  emphasise those things that unite the nation instead of the issues that can divide the country.

“Utterances and words of elders are just like winds and waves that move, gather momentum and cause destructive effects of which the end results of such destruction cannot be predicted.

“Responses of our young men and women are reflections of what the elders talk in public and even in private,” he said..

Earlier in a message, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Rev. Mathew Kukah, said no one could teach God knowledge or question his decisions.

He, therefore, said people should not feel despondent over the death of Yakowa.

He said the deceased died at his appointed time by God and urged the people to ignore those who are wielding suspicious story about his death.

He debunked the purported claim that some Muslims in the state were rejoicing over the death of Yakowa.

He noted that a former head of state and devout Muslim, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, cancelled his 70th birthday in honour of Yakowa.

He said the deceased made his marks as the first child from the Christian dominated southern part of Kaduna to attain the top position at various levels of government.

Kukah said Yakowa also broke the jinx by becoming the first Christian executive governor of Kaduna.

 Basiru Ayandiran

Desk editor