APC Wants Late Ocholi Immortalised, Decries Killing Of Members In Rivers State

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Tuesday, March 8th, 2016

Ayodele Afolabi, Abuja

The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday called for the immortalisation of the late Minister of State for Labour and Employment, James Ocholi (SAN) who died in a ghastly road accident which also claimed the lives of his wife and son.

This was a fallout of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) Special Session convened and chaired by the acting National Chairman, Engr. Segun Oni, in honour of the deceased minister who was also the party’s former interim Deputy National Legal Adviser.

The APC flag was flown at half mast as a sign of mourning at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday.

In tributes at the special session, Engr. Segun Oni said: “The late Ocholi was a very passionate and concerned party man and somebody who was professional to a fault. Somebody who was also passionate about progressive politics. He was driven and motivated more by service and what he could contribute to society.

National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni said: “He lived a fulfilled life, he was a committed party member. His demise was a great loss to this party, this nation and the people of Kogi State. We must take solace in the fact that death is inevitable end and one thing that can not be predicted. We as a party must do everything possible to ensure that Chief James Ocholi is properly immortalised.”

National Treasurer, Alhaji Bala Mohammed Gwagwarwa said: “The late Ocholi was a great party man and a frontline agent of change. We lost a friend in a time he was needed most.”

National woman leader of the ruling party, Hajiya Ramatu Tijani Aliyu said: “We lost an illustrious son who had always stood for progressive ideas”.

Deputy National Chairman (North), Senator Lawal Shuaibu said: “He was a passionate and committed party member”

On Rivers Killings:

Meanwhile at the NWC Special Session, the APC Acting National Chairman, Engr, Segun Oni, while decrying the recent spike in violence ahead of the upcoming rerun elections in Rivers state, chided the media for not giving adequate reportage of the attacks against members of the APC in Rivers and other parts of the country.

He called on the security agencies to rise up to stem the the tide of violence in Rivers State calling the situation “Tragic and a huge embarrassment and a source of worry to the party”.

Oni said: “The police and other security agencies should take responsibilities for what is happening in Rivers State, this is a very serious issue and you as members of the press should see what is happening as a real emergency that should not be treated with kid gloves”

Recall that on Saturday night, masked gunmen first shot dead Franklin Obi, the ward chairman of the APC in Omoku, headquarters of Ogab/Egbema/Ndoni council and then beheaded him. The gunmen went ahead and killed his wife and 18-year-old son, Bestman.

On Monday, Ofinjite Amachree, an APC stalwart in Buguma, Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State was beaten up and thereafter, set ablaze.