Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa has described late?Gov. Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State, as a detribalised Nigerian, who within his short life in government built bridges of love and unity.
Dickson made the observation in his tribute at the special valedictory session of the Bayelsa Executive Council held in Yenagoa on Tuesday in honour of?Yakowa, who died on Saturday.
He said, “The late?Kaduna State governor was and will remain a great Nigerian patriot, who came to Bayelsa, building bridges of love and bonds of fraternity.
“He was dedicated and humble servant of the people of Kaduna State and Nigeria at large.''?
The governor, who described the last Saturday incident that killed Yakowa, Azazi and others as a hurting nightmare, said?that the day would forever remain dark in our memories forever.
He said that the nation lost two distinguished leaders and dedicated military officers in the ill-fated crash, adding that Yakowa died in active service while visiting Bayelsa as a friend of the state.
According to Dickson, with Yakowa’s untimely demise, our nation has lost a great leader and democrat who lived and believed in the unity of our nation.
“Bayelsa has lost a great friend and I, personally, have lost an elder brother,” he said.
The governor, who was accompanied to the special session by his wife, Rachael, assured late Yakowa’s widow, Aminatu that the government and people of Bayelsa would remain close to her.
According to the governor, we will always be with you now and forever.
In a tribute, former??Governor of Bayelsa, Chief Diepreye Alamieseigha, described Yakowa as a brother, who served the nation and Kaduna State as a deputy governor and governor meritoriously.
He said that upon the emergence of Yakowa as governor of Kaduna State, many Nigerians did not give him a chance to succeed as a governor, because of the ethno-religious politics in the state.
“But by divine providence, he became governor when his then boss, Namadi Sambo was elevated to Vice-President.
“Yakowa then proved his critics wrong by building bridges of love and unity. He was a nationalist and man of peace,” Alamieseigha said.
According to him, Yakowa is?a celebrated democrat who believed in his people and celebrated them in governance.
He said, “His departure should be a source of encouragement to all those who value peace and humility.”
The Secretary to the Bayelsa Government, Prof. Edmund Allison-Oguru, said that the valedictory session in honour of Yakowa was indeed a solemn moment in the remembrance of a great Nigerian leader, who died in humility.
He said, “From his name, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, you will see that the various ethnic groups can live together in unity.
“This is a man who built bridges of love and peace between the Northern and Southern Kaduna people,” the secretary said.
The Deputy Governor?of Bayelsa, Rtd. Rear Admiral John Jonah, has been directed by Dickson to lead a government delegation to escort the corpse of Yakowa to Kaduna.
Meanwhile, Dickson is expected to lead an enlarged delegation of government and people of Bayelsa to Kaduna on Wednesday to commiserate with the family of Yakowa, the government and people of Kaduna State.
The governor said the delegation would also be in Abuja to commiserate with President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo, on the death of the victims of the crash. (NAN)