Prince Audu: Signs Of Death Before His Fall

8 years ago

Prince Audu: Signs Of Death Before His Fall

What ordinarily should have been a story of joy for the Family of Abubakar Audu, his political party, All Progressive Congress, APC, his associates and friends of a seeming victory in the Kogi Governorship election turned out to be a tale of agony.

The wife who had been hoping of being the first lady of the state suddenly becomes a widow, the Party who by now would have been in celebration mood found themselves in a political crisis; the people of the state who voted for him now faced a constitution debacle, political supporters who have been hoping of benefiting from his emergence suddenly become political outcast who have to start scuttling for favour from anyone who would be the governor; and his friends suddenly become ‘alien’.

The story of Audu’s death has overshadowed his victory at the poll. He was leading in the 21 local government already conducted before the election was declared ‘inconclusive’ by INEC.
The requiem at his burial site was a testimony of his personality. All state and local government offices were closed in the State in line with the three-day mourning period declared by Governor Idris Wada; just like ministries and agencies were under lock and key, flag flew at half mast.

A similar situation was also observed in the secretariat of the 21 Local Government area of the state. Aside the closure of state and local government officers, some private business centres did not open for business, while all banks across the state also observed the mourning period. The streets of Lokoja especially Ganaja junction that used to experience heavy traffic, showed little or no activities at all. He was that ‘powerful’ even in death.

Since 2003 when Audu was ousted from power by the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, through federal might, he struggled to return back to power, contesting in every elections. In 2003, he lost to Ibrahim Idris, in 2007, he contested again against same Idris and lost, a rerun was called in 2008, he contested and lost, in 2011 he did and lost to Capt. Idris Wada and finally in 2015 he won but lost to death.

All through these elections, he has adjudged himself to be the winner saying the Federal might controlled then by the PDP have always been used to usurp his victory. In 2015, his prayer seemed to be heard as the PDP led federal government lost to APC, giving him ray of hope to contest again in the last election and indeed was actually coasting to victory. But just as he was about to celebrate his victory, death snatched him away.

Many angles to his death
[ads4]
There were many angles to his death. Audu was said to have complained of stomach ache on Saturday shortly after voting and returning to his country home in Ogbonicha, Ofu Local
Government, and was advised to take a rest.
Though some said he had died as early as 10 am on Sunday but other source said he slumped and died after the Independent National Electoral Commission declared the result inconclusive.

Accusation has continue to trailed his death, some said he was poisoned by ‘people’ who may benefit from his death, other said his time was up as they regarded Audu as a mystified person that no one could have easily caused his death.

But pointer to his ill-health started on Wednesday prior to the election. It was the day for the grand finale rally of the party in support of his guber ambition. The Federal Government delegation headed by the Vice President, Yemi Osibanjo was at hand to honour the rally, but Audu was absent at the airstrip to welcome the VP.

Many have attributed his absence at the welcome party to annoyance that President Muhammedu Buhari himself was not present and he was not happy to receive the VP. Only those close to him knew that he was already feeling the weight of illness and asked his deputy, James Faleke to welcome the VP.

At the rally, Audu only spoke for five minutes, unlike him, who use to exhibit his charisma and eloquent flow of speech at every public fora. The following day, the state Campaign committee, held its final meeting to strategize on the election. Even when the meeting was held at Audu’s house in GRA, Lokoja, it was still his deputy, Faleke, that presided over the meeting.
Audu was seriously ill, resting upstairs and could not stay for the hour-long meeting.

On Friday, Audu was already at his country home, but was not getting better, the family called for medical personnel who placed him on drip and bed rest. Audu only remove the drip on Saturday to enable him go for accreditation by 9:30.

HOW HE DIED
However, the family of the late govemorship candidate of APC said Audu died after the collation of results of the governorship election held in the state last Saturday putting paid to insinuation of his death at the early hour of the day.

The immediate junior brother to the former governor, who is also the Orego Attah Igala, Alhaji Tijani Audu, revealed this in Ogbonicha also said there had been premonition about his death before the election.

He said contrary to insinuation that his brother died in the morning of Sunday, that he actually passed on after the Returning Of?cer for the election, Prof Emmanuel Kucha, declared the election inconclusive.

The junior Audu said the former governor listened and watched the collation of the results before he died, “I was with him when the whole thing started, I was told in the morning of Saturday that he was sick and I called him to con?rm but he said he was okay and will be coming to vote by 1pm and he came without showing any sign of sickness and we went together to vote.

“But the following day (Sunday) by 10 am I went there to see him and his children said he was having health challenges and was weak, I even advised that after the announcement of the result he should go abroad for treatment.

‘After the collation of results and no winner was announced but he won 16 local government areas, the next thing was that people started crying and he could not even enter his vehicle again and he died before he could be taken to the hospital”.

The junior Audu however debunked the insinuation that the APC candidate might have diedbecause of excessive drinking following his Victory at the poll.

He said he had stopped his brother from drinking since the electoral process started, adding that he was only taking bottled water.

“Whatever happens to a Muslim, we accept it as an act of God, only God has the souls of human beings, human beings make mistake with the claim that somebody killed another person. My brother has fought a good ?ght, it was a ?ght for survival and he really fought for his people.

“We heard that he will die even if he wins the election, we heard from many sources that he will not stay long after his victory, but whenever I tell him this he will tell me not to mind them, he said even if they will kill him, he I’ll ?ght for his people, now he is dead”.

AUDU’S RESSURECI’ION
As if a ?ery tale, story about his resurrection on burial day turned the atmosphere of the state into a frenzy, and it spread like wild ?re.

There was jubilation across the state. Even while his remains was brought out of his living room at about 1.45 pm for the Islamic prayers for burial, some youths in their hundreds were crowded in his Lokoja GRA house. celebrating
his ‘resurrection’.

The burial was witnessed by the State deputy Governor, Mr. Yomi Awoniyi, the National Chairman of the APC, John Odigie—Oyegun, governor of Kaduna state, Nasir el—Rufai, governor of Jigawa state, Abubakar Badaru, one of his predecessors, Saminu Turaki, former govemors Lucky Igbinedion, Abdukadir Kure, Rabiu Kwakwanso and George Akume.

Others were the deputy governorship candidate, James Faleke, the senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaiye, former Chief of Naval Staff, J ubril Usman among others.

On two occasions sympathisers, family members and political associates that thronged his expansive mansion in his Ogbonicha village went into wild jubilation following the news that Audu had “ resurrected”. The first incident was at about 11.00 am, while the people again jubilated at about 12 noon.

A prophetess had boasted that she will bring him to live. Family members resisted the ‘gesture’, but some sympathisers had to break the iron bar in one of the back entrances before the prayer warriors led by the prophetess could gain entrance into the building. She along with her comrade went into serious prayers proclaiming that he (Audu) has ‘woken’ up.
At a point, those preparing the grave had to stop to ascertain if there efforts will still be necessary.
The anxiety however subsided among the people when they waited for over one hour and the situation remained the same.

The corpse was however brought out wrapped with white cloth for burial. Symphatisers went for the prophetess’ head, she narrowly escaped being lynched by the mob.