My relationship with Late Prince Abubakar Audu dated back to 1991 when we held the 1st meeting of National Republican Convention (NRC) in Engineer Sule’s house in Okene after the creation of Kogi State.
I came in as the State Deputy Chairman of NRC to Late Musa Etudaiye, who came in as the state Chairman from Kwara and we met our counterpart from Benue with our major stake holders including Late Senator S B. Awoniyi.
Late Prince Audu was adopted as our flag bearer which brought him to power as the first Executive Governor of Kogi state.
I was also very much involved in Prince Audu’s 2nd coming under the platform of ANPP. He gave me a blank cheque to resolve the differences between him and Late S B Daniyan then which I did beautifully and we won the Election for his second coming as Executive of Kogi State.
We parted ways after that and I left for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but as providence will have it I came to join him in the formation of All Progressives Congress (APC) and worked closely with him to make APC formidable and victorious before his sudden departure.
He was the Leader of the party in the state and I was being referred to as his de facto vice.
His record in building Kogi of today among other achievement are: The Prince Abubakar Audu University, Ayangba; the Beach Hotel, the Stella Obasanjo Library, the Stadium, etc which are major legacies of reference.
Prince of the Niger, as he is popularly called, was extremely focused, with quality work and very hard working.
May his gentle soul continue to rest in perfect peace.
Amen
– His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Clarence Olafemi
Former Governor, Kogi State.
