The remains of former Governor of Kaduna State Patrick Yakowa were buried at his country home at Fadan Kagoma? on Thursday.
Yakowa died on Saturday, Dec. 15,? in a helicopter crash at Nembe Local government Area of Bayelsa along with five others, including former National Security Adviser, Gen. Andrew Azazi.
In a tribute at the burial service held at St Paul Catholic Church, President Jonathan eulogised Yakowa describing him as a “bridge builder’’ who loved his people irrespective of their religion and tribe.
He described Dec. 15 as a “dark Saturday’’
“Yakowa was a nationalist. He played his roles very well as a civil servant of the old not as a civil service of today when a director has more houses than Dangote.
“`No ethnic or religious divide in his blood,” he said.
The president pledged the continued support of the government to the immediate family of the deceased.
He also appealed to leaders to guard their utterance in public and in private against those things that could divide and destroy the nation.
He urged the senior citizens to? emphasise those things that unite the nation instead of the issues that can divide the country.
“Utterances and words of elders are just like winds and waves that move, gather momentum and cause destructive effects of which the end results of such destruction cannot be predicted.
“Responses of our young men and women are reflections of what the elders talk in public and even in private,’’ he said..
Earlier in a message, Rev. Mathew Kukah, said no one could neither teach God knowledge nor question his decisions; therefore people should not feel despondent over the death of Yakowa.
He said the deceased died at his appointed time by God and urged the people to ignore those who are wielding suspicious story about his death
He debunked the purported claim that a section of religious divide in the State was rejoicing over the death of Yakowa.
He noted that former head of State, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, a devout Muslim, cancelled his 70th birthday in honour of Yakowa.
He said the deceased made his marks as the first child from the Christian dominated southern part of Kaduna to attain the top position at various levels of government.
Kukah said Yakowa also broke the jinx by becoming the first Christian executive governor of Kaduna.
He said the feat had seemed unattainable in the state because of certain interests who were playing politics of exclusion based on religion.
Kukah said the achievements of Yakowa as governor, particularly in development and in building bridges of unity, were testimonies to the fact that governance was not an exclusive right of a group.
Kukah inspired the youths from southern Kaduna to emulate the good traits of Yakowa and be confident in themselves that they could achieve lofty positions in the state and beyond.
He urged them not to surrender to doubts and feelings of inferiority.
He also called on Yakowa's successor, Governor Ramalan Yero, to ignore the parochial opinion of some people who were still advocating politics of exclusion in the State
“Do not be tempted by what the wicked people claimed: that the Muslims have taken back what belong to them.
“The politics of exclusion should be reversed for a creation of a just and even society.
“This is what South Africa and America had realised and done.
“We must seek men and women of integrity for position of authority as oppose to religious sentimentality.
“We must rise up to build a united Nigerian,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Cardinal John Onaiyekan, assisted by other Clergy conducted the? Requiem and the Eucharist Mass.
Among the dignitaries at the burial were, former Head of State, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar, the Senate President, Sen. David Mark and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal.
The Chairman of Governors’ Forum, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers and his wife, Judith, Governors Babangida Aliyu of Niger, Gabriel Suswam of Benue and Oluegun Mimiko, Ondo were also in attendance
Also in attendance were Deputy Governors James Ngilari of Adamawa, Peter Kishira of Kwara, Abubakar Aliyu of Yobe, Umar Mustapha of Borno and Damishi Lucas of Nasarawa.
The National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamangar Tukur, his predecessors, Chief Solomon Lar,? Chief Audu Ogbe, Alhaji Amadu Ali as well as? Prof Jerry Gana, were also in attendance.
Also in attendance were ministers, the national Security Adviser Col. Sambo Dasuki and some aides of the President.
NAN recalls that apart from Yakowa and Owoye-Azazi, their aides and crew, were killed in the crash while returning from the burial of the father? Dr Oronto Douglas, the Special Adviser to the President on Research, Documentation and Strategy,
The deceased aides were? Dauda Tsoho and Warrant Officer Mohammed Kamal as well as? the pilots, Commander Muritala Mohammed Daba and Lt. AdeyemiO. Sowole
Born on Dec. 1 1948, Yakowa was appointed Deputy Governor of Kaduna State in July 2005, and returned as deputy governor in the April 2007 elections.
He was sworn in as Governor on May 20, 2010, replacing former governor Namadi? Sambo who had been sworn in as Vice President the day before.
Yakowa successfully ran for election as Kaduna Governor in the 26 April 2011 polls.
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