Rabiu Kwankwaso

Richard Elesho/ Lokoja
The immediate past Governor of Kano state, Senator Rabiu Kwakwanso has called on politicians in the country to learn from the unexpected demise of Prince Abubakar Audu who he described as winner of last year’s Kogi governorship election, in spite of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s INEC decision to declare the election as inconclusive.

Kwankwaso gave the advice at Ogbonicha, the home town of Audu where he addressed people at the launching of Prince Abubakar Audu Foundation as part of activities marking the first anniversary of the former governor’s death. Audu was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 21st November Kogi governorship poll. He was clearly coasting to victory, but died a day after on Sunday November 22nd as results were being collated.

Kwankwaso said Audu’s unexpected demise should serve as lesson to Nigerians especially the political class. He recalled that despite that the late two time former governor gained maximum support during his electioneering campaign, he was unable to fulfil all the promises he gave his people prior to the state governorship election, showing that power belongs to God.

Kwankwoso said although the late Audu continued to contest for the race since he lost out in 2003, because of his desire to return good governance in the state but God did not want him to come back to continue from where he stopped.

While eulogizing late Audu for his remarkable achievements as governor between 1992 and 2003, he noted that he (Audu) will forever be written in gold not only in Kogi state but the whole of Nigeria.

His words, “If Abubakar Audu were to be alive as governor, Kogi State would have been wearing a new look, it would have been better than this. I only charge leaders in the state to immortalize him for all his achievements in education, health, youth empowerment, and housing.

“When me and my friend, Prince Abubakar were governors, all of us including other state governor won trophies for our outstanding performance in governance but he “Audu ” bagged the highest among us all. He won seven out of the 12 trophies. As a mark of respect, I used to seek advice from him, because of his intellects and vision, he has that charisma of changing the fortunes of things for the development of his people.”

Also speaking, Mohammed Audu described his father as a man for all season who died to liberate his people from poverty, malnutrition, health decay, infrastructural and under development. Mohammed said the Foundation initiated by him aimed at continuing with his fathers legacies, stressing that the foundation will focus on youth and women,empowerment, scholarship and rural health services across the state.

Those in attendance included two former governors, Lucky Igbinedion of Edo and and Abdukadir Kure of Niger State.