Buhari mourns Nigeria's labour minister who died in auto crash

Nigeria’s Minster of State for Labour and Employment, Chief James Ocholi has died in a motor accident.

President Buhari whiles mourning with the family of his late appointee described him as “an accomplished and patriotic Nigerian who was keen to accept the call to service at a time his country needed him.”

Reports in local media indicate that Ocholi was travelling along the Abuja – Kaduna road when the incident occured. His son and aide-de-camp also died in the accident.

Wife dies in hospital

His wife who was also in coma as a result of the crash was confirmed dead later whiles on admission at a hospital according to a social media post by Kaduna State governor Mallam Nasir El Rufai.

“It is with great sadness that the Kaduna State Ministry of Health and Human Services further announces the death of Mrs. Ocholi at Doka Hospital, who was in coma since the accident near Rijana, along the Kaduna-Abuja Road. Earlier, the death of Minister Ocholi and his son were announced. May their souls rest in perfect peace, Amen,” the governor wrote.

Buhari Mourns

In a series of tweets, President Buhari through his special assistant on new media, Bashir Ahmad; expressed shock and sadness over the death of the Minister, describing it as untimely and a key loss in the ‘change agenda’ of his administration.

BashirAhmaad wfm917 R.I.P

— Simeon Femi Emmanuel (@Feranmii18) March 6, 2016

BashirAhmaad very sad in deed

— TripDarlinq® (TripDarlinq) March 6, 2016

3. President Buhari described Ocholi's death as untimely, regretting that Nigeria has lost a key component of the change agenda.

— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) March 6, 2016

He also condoled with the people of Kogi State where the deceased minister comes from. Ocholi is from Dekina local Government area of Kogi state.

He is a lawyer having graduated from the Nigerian law school in 1986 before being called to the Nigerian bar the same year. His alma mater University of Jos (UNIJOS), tweeted in respect of their old and illustriuos student.

UniJos mourns as one of her Old Boy takes a bow. James Ocholi SAN is no more. A Law graduate of 1985 class. RIP Jurist. We will miss you.

— UNIJOS Breaking News (@UNIJOSBreaking) March 6, 2016