Yakowa buried amid tears, eulogies

KADUNA— Tears flowed freely, yesterday, amid eulogies as President Goodluck Jonathan led dignitaries to pay their last respects at the burial of former Governor of Kaduna State, Patrick Yakowa at his country home in Fadan Kagoma.
Yakowa died on Saturday, December. 15,  in a helicopter crash at Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa alongside five others, including former National Security Adviser, Gen. Andrew Azazi.
Late Yakowa’s wife and children fought back tears as they performed the dust-to-dust rites for the late governor after the funeral oration by the Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev. Mathew Kukah.
Among the dignitaries at the burial were, former Head of State, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar, the Senate President, Senator David Mark and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal.
The Chairman of Governors’ Forum, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers and his wife, Judith; Governors Babangida Aliyu of Niger, Gabriel Suswam of Benue and Oluegun Mimiko, Ondo; Peter Obi of Anambra, Seriake Dickson, Bayelsa and Fayemi of Ekiti State were also in attendance.
Also at the burial were Deputy Governors James Ngilari of Adamawa, Peter Kishira of Kwara, Abubakar Aliyu of Yobe, Umar Mustapha of Borno and Damishi Lucas of Nasarawa.

President Goodluck Jonathan consoling Amina, the wife of late Governor of Kaduna State, Sir Patrick Yakowa during the funeral service, yesterday at Fadan Kagoma, Kaduna.

The National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamangar Tukur, his predecessors, Chief Solomon Lar,  Chief Audu Ogbe, Alhaji Amadu Ali as well as  Prof Jerry Gana, were also in attendance.
Also present were ministers, the national Security Adviser Col. Sambo Dasuki and some aides of the President.
Yakowa goes home
The casket bearing the remains of Yakowa arrived open ground of  St. Paul Catholic Church in an ambulance with registration number KDS 157  by 10:20am.
It came by road from Kaduna, 250 km North of Kagoma, and was escorted by Yakowa’s widow Dame Amina Yakowa; her four children, and a convoy of family members, friends, associates and some cabinet members of Kaduna State Government under tight security.
As the casket was brought out of the ambulance, there were wailings from the crowd, as the casket was carried into the main church.
The burial ceremony started at 11am with the arrival of President Jonathan Goodluck to the open space of the church where three large canopies, each twice the size of basketball field, were erected and surrounded by heavily armed guards.