Abia Mourns Yar’Adua

Political leaders in Abia State have expressed shock over the death of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.  The state Governor, Chief  Theordore A. Orji described  the development as a national tragedy.

Reacting to the news of Yar’Adua’s death, Governor Orji said his death was more painful coming at a time Nigerians were praying for him and hoping that he would recover.

The governor, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kingsley Emereuwa, described late Yar’Adua as a great leader who had a passion to serve the country.  He said his death was a great loss to Nigeria.

Also in his reaction, chairman of Abia State Chapter of PDP, Chief Ndidi Okereke, said the death of the former president was a monumental loss to both the party and Nigeria in general.

“The news of his death came to us as a shock, especially at this time Nigerians were praying and hoping that he would recover from his ailment.  This is indeed a national tragedy.

“He was a good man as well as a great leader whose passion to serve  his fatherland manifested in his sacrifice to the nation.  We cannot forget how he steered the ship of our nation with strict application of the Rule of Law.  We cannot query God whom it has pleased to call  him home.  The Lord gives and the Lord takes. “From my family, the good people and government of Abia State, we pray for the repose of his gentle soul, and ask God to grant his family, the people of Katsina and the entire country, the fortitude to bear this loss”, Governor Orji said.

In the same vein, Okereke described Yar’Adua as a good leader who wanted to  move the nation forward through the 7-point programme he initiated.

The Abia PDP chairman also described the late president as a humane leader who wanted things to be done in accordance with the rule of law.

Okereke expressed that Yar ‘Adua died when the nation needed his service most.  While praying for the repose of his soul, the Abia PDP chairman prayed God to give the family and, indeed, Nigerians the fortitude “to bear the great loss”.

The Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Chief Agwu U. Agwu, in mourning the late president, described his death as “painful, a great loss to Nigeria”.  He said that Yar’Adua died when his services were mostly needed by the country.

The speaker expressed regret that the president could not accomplish his 7-point agenda before death came calling, but said that Nigerians, however, would not forget him in a hurry.

According to him, Yar’Adua would be remembered for many positive things such as “transparency and humanness in governance” which, he said, were demonstrated by his insistence on the rule of law.  He prayed God to give the family the courage to bear the loss.

Also, the Deputy Speaker, Chief Chinedum Elechi, on behalf of his Ukwa West State Constituency, described Yar’Adua death as “very shocking”.