At the valedictory session by Kaduna State Executive Council (SEC) on Wednesday in honour of late Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, at the council chambers of the Government House his successor ,Governor Muktar Ramalan Yero revealed how Yakowa predicted his death.
Those who attended the session included commissioners, Yakowa’s widow, Amina, and her children, Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna Diocese, Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, and his counterpart from the Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah.
In Yero’’s words , “on Friday, he Yakowa told me that everything belongs to God and that someday, he may be no more and that I could be the governor and that he was going to Port Harcourt, Bayelsa, Lagos and end up in Abuja.”
The new governor in a move that may send shockwaves down the spines of some officials also recounted how he was appointed deputy governor and how some of the commissioners and other unnamed persons plotted his removal.
He gave assurance to Yakowa’s widow that government of Kaduna state will henceforth continue to cater for the family as far as he remains the governor.
“When Late Yakowa became the governor following the elevation of Arch. Muhammed Namadi Sambo as Vice President, in 2010, I was still a serving Commissioner for Finance and I went to congratulate Yakowa as the new governor in his house”Yero said.
“I first greeted the wife as customs demand before going to see the governor, in fact I went with some people who were waiting for me outside and he called me, as usual ,exchequer.
“He brought out a sheet of paper containing about six or seven names and my name was among the names and he said, these names were given to me for consideration and advice, but that if he does not feel comfortable, he could choose anyone he feels.
“My name was there and he said to me even if your name is not there I want to work with you, I do not want the Vice President to take you to Abuja and away from Kaduna state.
“He then asked for my opinion and I said let us leave everything to God and he agreed. I did not tell even those I came with when I came outside.
“After a year while trying to resolve certain crisis, he told me that he was asked by some commissioners and other people to drop me because of the crisis and he said, no.
“About two to three weeks ago, something happened and he called me in his office and about the third time he said, Commissioners and certain people are complaining that I said I was not being carried along in the running of the state and I said I did not know them and that I did not want to know them because I do not know them except when there is meeting in my office and I asked him to put all this behind us and that we should continue working together.
“I told him my portion where I felt he had wronged me and we resolved it. There is one problem which is communication gap between us and he said let us close that gap and put the people to shame.
“He said, whatever I see, I should talk to him. I am a happy man that today, I am parting with my boss without holding anything against him or him holding anything against me.
“What to emulate about him is patience, which is the secret of his success in life, when you have patience you will never go astray.
“I want to assure that her Excellency Mrs Yakowa and her children will be the responsibility of the state government as long as I remain the governor of the state. I will make them comfortable, you can call me anytime as your son and ask for whatever and I will do it.”
Our correspondent reported that the valedictory session was part of activities marking the burial rites for Yakowa. There was also a wake wake-keep for the deceased Wednesday evening at the Government House Kaduna while the remains of Yakowa will leave the St. Gerald Catholic Hospital at 7am Thursday morning for Fadan-Kagoma in Jema’a local government area where there will be a .
funeral mass at the St. Paul’s Catholic Church, at about 11am.
Yakowa ,and former NSA General Owoye and four others died in a helicopter crash on Saturday in Bayelsa state after attending the funeral of the father of Oronto Douglas, an adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan.
