THE death of the Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Mr. James Ocholi (SAN), alongside his wife, son and others in a ghastly car crash on the Kaduna-Abuja Highway last Sunday is tragic and lamentable. The late minister was reported to be on his way to Abuja after attending a church programme in Kaduna when the accident occurred. Eyewitness accounts indicate that the mishap occurred when the rear tyre of the Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) in which the family was travelling burst on high speed, making the vehicle to skid off the road and somersault several times.
The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), through its Corps Marshal, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, has attributed the accident to excessive speeding by the driver of the vehicle at the time its tyre burst. The agency also mentioned the non-use of safety belts by the deceased and the fact that the driver had no Driver’s Licence. Since this unfortunate incident, many prominent Nigerians including President Muhammadu Buhari have paid glowing tributes to the late minister.
The president described Barrister Ocholi as an “accomplished and patriotic Nigerian, who was keen to accept the call to service at a time his country needed him.” He also affirmed that Ocholi, in his few months in office, had already begun to distinguish himself through his commitment and dedication to his portfolio. According to Buhari. the entire country mourns the loss of this great man, who has sadly left us when we need him most.
To the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Ocholi sacrificed a lot for the merger that gave birth to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Numerous politicians across the political divides have also lauded Ocholi’s sterling qualities.
President Buhari, on Wednesday, led members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in paying special tribute to the late minister. He commended the deceased politician for his humility, which made him accept to work under a junior lawyer during the APC merger process despite being a SAN. The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige, at the occasion, also described Ocholi’s death as a colossal tragedy.
Born on November 26, 1960 in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, Ocholi attended Ochaja Secondary School and later studied law at the University of Jos. He attended the Nigerian Law School in 1986 and was called to the Bar in the same year. He worked as a pupil counsel in the private law firm of D.D. Peter Achimusi in Idah, Kogi State, from 1987 to 1988 and later went into private practice. He was a consultant to the government, parastatals, banks, financial institutions and other corporate bodies. He was conferred with the prestigious title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2007. The deceased specialised in incorporation of companies, Constitutional and Commercial Law, Conveyance as well as Private and Public International Law.
As a politician, he contested the Kogi State gubernatorial race in 2011 on the platform of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and lost to Alhaji Idris Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He vied for the APC governorship ticket in 2015 and lost to the late Prince Audu Abubakar. Ocholi became the Deputy National Legal Adviser of the APC as well as the Kogi State coordinator of the Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation. He distinguished himself and was rated high by Nigerians during the screening of ministerial nominees by the Senate.
The death of Ocholi has once again brought to the front burner the problem of recklessness of drivers in the convoys of politicians. The time has come to design strategies to reduce their excessive speeding and uncaring attitude to other road users. Many political appointees have lost their lives in avoidable road accidents caused by carelessness on the part of these drivers.
It is sad that the political career of this brilliant Igala lawyer has been cut short by this avoidable road mishap. The FRSC should, therefore, buckle up in its speed limiting campaigns and the training of drivers, including those who drive politicians. It is regrettable that drivers of government officials frequently disregard driving rules, especially those relating to speed limits.
We urge the government to do all it can to mitigate the pain of Ocholi’s children over the unfortunate loss of their two parents, and their elder brother, in this accident.
The decision of the federal government to offer his son a job, and scholarships to his other children, is commendable, but more should be done for the family.
Ocholi will be remembered for his high sense of patriotism and his commitment to his Christian religion and the APC change project. We commiserate with his family, Kogi State, the political class and the entire nation on his demise. May God grant his soul eternal repose.