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From Emmanuel Adeyemi, Lokoja
There was uneasy calm in Kogi Sate over the death of Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, James Ocholi (SAN), who died on Sunday in a ghastly motor accident along with his family.
He was said to have gone for a thanksgiving service in his church in Kaduna State and was returning to Abuja when he had the accident in Doma village. It was learnt that the minister, before relocating to Abuja, was said to have set up a law chamber in Ankpa, Kogi State, Kaduna and Lagos. He lost his parents many years ago.
Meanwhile, eminent businessman and former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu has lamented Ocholi’s death in an auto crash along Abuja-Kaduna Expressway on Sunday.
The former governor described the late minister as a committed patriot whose contribution to national development was remarkable, having served in different capacities in public and private spheres of life.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Kunle Oyewumi, Kalu said: “The demise of Ocholi, his wife and son is tragic.
“Nigeria has lost a thoroughbred professional who was committed to impacting the society positively.
“He was easy-going, humane and charismatic. It is, indeed, painful that Ocholi, his wife and son died in such devastating circumstance.”
Kalu urged the deceased’s friends, political associates and family, especially members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), to take solace in the fact that Ocholi will be remembered for his forthrightness and patriotism.
Also, immediate past deputy governor of Kogi State, Yomi Awoniyi, has expressed shock and pain at his death.
In a statement signed by his media aide, Mike Abu, Awoniyi equally lamented the painful deaths of wife, Fatima Blessing and Joshua.
He described as a cruel irony, how Ocholi strove to avail the state and the country of his skill and experience only to be rudely taken away when the long-pursued opportunity finally arrived. He described the death of Ocholi as a corporate to Kogi State and a monumental loss to Nigeria.
Commiserating with the surviving members of the late minister’s family, President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Yahaya Bello, Awoniyi urged them to take solace in the impactful life that the late minister lived.
