Abubakar Audu, APC’s Governorship candidate died before he could be declared winner of the state election held over the weekend. His death was confirmed by his personal assistant, Ibrahim Asodo who spoke with TVC News in a telephone chat but he declined further comments. He said the APC family was mourning in Kogi state.
However, cause of his death has been reported diversely, from blood vomit to heart attack. Therefore this media tags the cause as undisclosed pending further development over the course of the next days. The election remains inconclusive and another will election exercise has been announced to come up.
According to NAIJ.com, here are few facts on the late politician:
Prince Abubakar Audu, 68, had been the governor of Kogi state twice. His first tenure was from January 1992 until November 1998 and the second from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2003.
Born on 27 October 1947, Prince Audu was the son of his Royal Highness, the late Pa Audu Oyidi, Orego Atta of Igala Land and the paramount ruler of Ogbonicha-Alloma in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi state. He studied banking and personnel management in London for three years and worked for 25 years in various capacities at management level at First Bank – formerly known and Standard Bank.
After Kogi state was created from parts of the old Benue and Kwara states in 1991, Audu as a notable son of the soil was invited to contest for governorship. He won the election in November 1991 under the platform of the National Republican Convention (NRC) and was sworn in in Jenuary 1992.5.In 1998, Audu was elected again, now with the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP).
He also contested in the 2003, 2007 and 2012 Kogi state gubernatorial elections but lost.
After he left office in 2003, he was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with corruption.His case has been on for 12 years.
One of his major achievements is a complete transformation of Lokoja infrastructure: he established three different housing schemes for public officers, established television and radio stations, pioneered the construction an ultra modern stadium and a five star hotel, apart from other things.
In 1993, he and the member of his family were special guests of the British Prime Minister, John Major, at No 10, Downing Street where he hosted them to a State Banquet.
Audu has promised the people of the state that he will revive the moribund Ajaokuta Steel Rolling company and solve the problem of youth unemployment if he wins the election.
The main rival of Prince Audu in the upcoming governorship election was Kogi is Captain Idris Ichalla Wada, the incumbent governor representing the PDP. A total of 22candidates were registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
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