APC tackles Tinubu, Faleke Over Ministerial Slot

The festering crisis in the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC involving the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu may have taken a new dimension as leaders of the All Progressives Congress in Kogi State have vowed to clip the influence of Tinubu, in the north central region of the country, report according to Punch Newspaper suggests

In the bid to tame Tinubu, the party leaders have vowed to reject James Faleke if nominated as a replacement for the late Minister of State for Labour, James Ocholi, who died in March last year in a road accident.

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They have called on President Muhammadu Buhari not to accept Faleke’s nomination, saying it would cause crisis in the party.

In a statement jointly signed by the leaders of the party from Kogi West, Alhaji Suleiman Ejibunu and Chief Richard Asaje, and made available to newsmen in Lokoja on Monday, the party men said the party would reject Faleke’s nomination.

“If at all Faleke and his godfather, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, deserve any and not the ministerial slot of Kogi State to avoid serious crisis in the Kogi APC as such a move may lead to the exit of every prominent, loyal and committed member of the party while aggravating the fractionalisation of the party along many divides.

“We are also unequivocally resolute to stop Tinubu’s expansion into Kogi State or any state in the North-Central; we are determined to push out all his cohorts from Kogi come 2018/2019. It is a task that must be done through all legal/political means. They have failed and they will continue to fail," the statement read in part

The leaders noted that James Faleke representing Lagos State in the National Assembly was known to Kogi State APC only during the governorship struggle when Tinubu allegedly imposed him on APC in Kogi as the deputy governorship candidate to late Prince Abubakar Audu.

The statement also read, “This generated a lot of discomfort to the founding members of APC who built the party, fought the then sitting government in all national elections and won. However, we swallowed the pains to fight and win the governorship election in the state.

“Giving him such an appointment will amount to providing him fuel to fire on the breakup of APC in the state. Faleke alongside Honourable Buba Jibril in the West Senatorial Area of Kogi State have formed illegal party structures and lay claim to illegal stakeholder structure for which a petition is already before the national leadership of the party.”

The Kogi APC chiefs advised President Muhammadu Buhari to find other means of compensating Faleke and not to make him a minister representing Kogi State.

Late Minister Ocholi: APC Mounts Pressure On Buhari For Replacement, Lists Nominees

Elders of the Kogi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, have noted the importance of filling the vacant position created as a result of the demise of late minister, James Ocholi.

They tasked President Muhammadu Buhari on the need for a replacement of Ocholi who died as minister of state for Labour and Employment.

It will be recalled that Ocholi, a Senoir Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, who represented Kogi State in the Federal Executive Council, FEC, died on the Kaduna-Abuja expressway alongside his wife and second son on March 6, in what is believed to be an accident caused by a burst tyre.

In a letter signed by Isa Sani Omolori on behalf of Kogi State’s APC Elder’s Vangauard, and addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, they expressed concern that many months after the sudden death of the minister who represented the slot of Kogi State in line with the principle of Federal Character, a replacement is yet to be made.

The elders noted the importance of filling the vacant position created as a result of the demise of the late minister, stating that since the late James Ocholi was of the defunct Congress For Progressive Change, CPC, it will only be fair that the slot is retained by the CPC in the state.

They however, warned the president not to appoint someone who is not a member of the legacy parties that formed the APC in Kogi State as Ocholi’s replacement.

The statement reads, “Since the demise of our beloved minister, James Ocholi, there has been a general clamour for his replacement from various interest groups in Kogi Sate, but there is need to be aware of the gentleman agreement reached during the formation of APC, chaired by late Prince Abubakar Audu.

“Since James Ocholi of blessed memory is only few months into his tenure, it is only fair, that his slot goes back to CPC.

“A meeting of CPC was convened and we zeroed on three CPC members from the three senatorial districts. Also, any appointment should recognise the geographical equation for equity.

“The President is urged to be guided by the agreed zoning formula of sharing political positions in the state as fashioned by the late party leader, Prince Abubakar Audu.”

The Kogi elders listed three nominees from which President Buhari should choose the replacement, among whom are Alhaji Idris M. Usman, state coordinator, Buhari Solidarity Organisation (BSO) who they said has been in the opposition for the past 17 years, Mallam Ahmed Kokoli and Hon Jibril Yusuf.

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FRSC Unravels 'The Misery' Behind Ocholi's Auto-Crash, Death

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Wednesday submitted an interim report to the Federal Executive Council on the crash that killed Minister of State for Labour James Ocholi, his wife and son.

FRSC Corps Marshall Boboye Oyeyemi, who presented the report, said the investigation team discovered that over speeding led to the accident which occurred Sunday on the Kaduna-Abuja Road. Oyeyemi told the Federal Executive Council that the investigation also showed that Ocholi's driver had no licence.

He said it was also discovered that the late minister, his wife and the son were not on safety seat belts. Oyeyemi also stated that the investigation team discovered that the ill-fated vehicle conveying the late minister and his family had no walkie-talkie otherwise known as a handheld transceiver.

The FRSC boss said it was also found out that the tyres of the ill-fated SUV were not properly fixed and had no proper alignment. The FRSC helmsman added that all MDAs cars were not properly registered. President Buhari as well as the Ministers of Labour, Agriculture, Water Resources, State for Health, State for Niger Delta, State for Foreign Affairs paid glowing tributes to the late minister. Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal said the president had approved that the burial "is government affair".

He said a 13-man burial committee chaired by himself had been set up with Ministers of Labour, Health, Water Resources and Trade and Investment as members. Other members of the committee include Ocholi's sister and brother, Kogi State deputy governor.

The SGF added that the president had also approved that Ocholi's two children who are graduates be employed by the federal government, and two others who are still in school be given scholarship to the university level.

On the burial arrangement, the SGF said the dead bodies would leave the National Hospital on March 17 for Ocholi's hometown in Dekina, Kogi State; while the interment would be on March 18.

FG Offers Employment, Scholarship To Late Ocholi's Siblings

As part of efforts to ensure succour comes the way of the children of the late Minister of State for Labour, Mr. James Ocholi, SAN; the Federal Government has announced automatic employment at the Federal Ministry of Justice for Aaron, his eldest son.

This is just as the Federal Executive Council will dedicate today’s meeting as expected to pay special tribute to the late minister as one of its active member.

Comrade Salihu Othman Isah, Special Adviser to the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN in a press statement made available Tuesday in Abuja.

Isah hinted that the AGF revealed this to the Ocholi family when he paid a sympathy visit to his Kado Estate residence at around 3.00pm to convey his and President Buhari’s condolence message.

The AGF also disclosed that Aaron’s other siblings are to enjoy scholarships for their educational pursuits courtesy of the Federal Government who has pledged to cushion the effect of the loss.

He said the late Senior Advocate of Nigeria was a very critical part of the change effort of the Federal Government.

Malami disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari personally mandated him to inform the family of the late minister that his administration will do all within its power to ensure he is not missed.

He however, enjoined them that death is a necessary end that is bound to happen, adding that God in his infinite mercy had a reason for allowing them to go the way they did.

“I am here to convey Mr. President’s condolence message and he has asked me to personally inform you that you have been given automatic employment in the Federal Ministry of Justice. The employment letter is in process and you can resume work after now”, he told late Ocholi’s eldest son.

Your father was a very hardworking and conscientious member of the Federal Executive Council who was very passionate and worked hard for the realisation of the change agenda of this government.

Indeed, it is a sad moment for all of us and the vacuum which his death has created is not only for the family, but the leadership as well. He was a great pillar in the struggle which brought this administration to power. He played a major role in the merger process. ”

The AGF also recalled that even as far back as during the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), late Ocholi was one of those who stood strong behind President Buhari and was one of those who took part in the judicial struggle afterward in an effort to claim the presidential mandate at the election tribunal up to the Supreme Court at that time.

Malami therefore prayed for his departed soul to rest in peace. 

Ocholi's Auto-crash Death, A Case of Political Assassination - Family Raises Alarm, His Revelations'll Shock You

A Family member of Late James Ocholi, the Minister of State for Labour, Mr. James Ocholi (SAN); his wife, Blessing; and son, Joshua has suspected that the death of the minister may not be far from a pure case of political assassination and has called on the Federal Government to investigate his suspicions.

In this report according to Punch Newspaper, the Federal Government has promised to investigate how the driver of the Sport Utility Vehicle, in which the Minister of State for Labour, Mr. James Ocholi (SAN); his wife, Blessing; and son, Joshua, died along the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway on Sunday, was employed.

The Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige, stated this on Monday while responding to the call by the relatives of the deceased, including Ocholi’s uncle, Abdallah Aliu; another relative, Paul Audu; and the immediate younger sister to the late Blessing, who did not want her name mentioned, that the driver be investigated.

“The acting Permanent Secretary is here, she is the one in charge of human resources. We will find out and investigate it. We will do, but I can tell you that our personal drivers are known to us and we both keep our personal drivers. We will find out and investigate this,” Ngige said.

The Ocholi family is working on some theories concerning the accident.

The family members believed that the driver of a car that somersaulted several times would ordinarily be unconscious and would not take photographs of the deceased and upload them on social media.

They also contended that the driver and the orderly should have cordoned off the place and evacuated the corpses as this had been the tradition whenever a VIP was involved in an accident.

Aliu said, “Distinguished Senator Ngige, I know you very well. When James Ocholi was told to work with you, I knew he was in good hands because the last time I saw you was in Anambra State. We ate with you in your house as a governor.

“This man that just died is not a lone person. We leave this responsibility in your care. Whoever recruited the driver and posted (redeploy) him should be investigated. It can happen to anybody, it can happen to any minister. It can happen because it has happened.

“So, we want to know who recruited the driver, and at what speed (he was during the trip) to the extent that the corpse of the deceased cannot even be recognised. Can you imagine that? I am worried, it is worrisome.”

He also shed light on his allegations later during a telephone interview with The PUNCH.

Aliu added, “There was a kind of foul play in the whole exercise, which is very worrisome. Apparently, the driver who drove the car was the same person who took the photo of the dead man and sent it all over the Internet – whatsApp and others. So, the question is: how come that the driver of the vehicle in the same car was able to take the picture of the dead man?

“The side of the door, where the Honourable Minister sat, was not properly locked because after the car somersaulted, the thing flung him and so he had a terrible and fatal damage that his body was beyond recognition. There was a foul play in Ocholi’s death.

“While I was in his house, I already knew because those who conspired and plotted it (the death) became jittery because I have never been to that house and they don’t know me. But somehow, they became jittery, scared and worried.

“This thing they did is political, it is a political war and some people want to score some political points against the system somehow. The death of Ocholi is quite suspicious.

“So, I had to hurriedly leave because God has made me to know what happened and we know that they will get the people who are responsible. When you are innocent, God will always uncover how certain things happened. Ocholi’s death is a great loss to the common people of Nigeria. And the spirit of the common people of Nigeria is fighting back.

“The perpetrators want to derail the focus of this administration. They are looking for every way to put a wedge in the wheel of success. I can specifically pinpoint those who plotted these things. What they are trying to do now is to knock heads together and the earlier we get rid of them out of that place, the better.

“As we were there, they were trying to get the contacts of the ministers that came there for condolence, making phone calls and reporting back to whoever is their manipulator.

“They decided to get rid of Ocholi to derail the focus of the government. Ocholi was not smart enough to know that these things could happen. They have lost, failed and we will ask God to forgive them because they have taken a soul that they cannot create.”

Excerpted from Punch Newspaper

Sad! Minister Ocholi's Wife, Son Also Comfirmed Dead In Same Crash

The minister of state for Labour and Productivity, Mr. James Ocholi, his wife and eldest son died 57 kilometres from Kaduna, the Federal Road Safety Commission has said.

While the minister and his son died on the spot, his wife died later at Doka Government Hospital in Kaduna hours later.

The Kaduna State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr. Francis Udoma, explained that the accident when the rear tyre of the Sports Utility Vehicle conveying them burst and the vehicle somersaulted several times.

Udoma said, “The rear tyre bursted and the vehicle, somersaulted. The minister and his son died on the spot, the wife died in the government hospital in Doka, Kaduna.

“The driver, the chief detail, the orderly and the Personal Assistant were injured.”

The Crashed Car at The Scene of the Accident

Punch Newspaper

Buhari's Minister, Ocholi Dies In Auto Crash, See Photo of Crashed Car

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, James Ocholi, is dead.

He died in a road accident along the Kaduna-Abuja highway on Sunday afternoon

Mr. Ocholi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria from Kogi state, and his son died on the spot of the accident.

Those familiar with the incident said his driver and wife were in critical condition at Doka clinic several kilometres from Kaduna.

Aviation minister, Hadi Sirika, also shared his thoughts on the incident this afternoon, tweeting that he and the late minister still met on Friday.

See Photo of Crash vehicle Bellow:

THE CRASHED CAR
Source: Daily Trust

Details soon