President Goodluck Jonathan’s mien when he visited the Ikoyi, Lagos family house of late former National Security Adviser, Gen. Andrew Azazi, on Monday showed a man who would betray his emotions if he spoke. He, therefore, instructed his Chief of Staff, Chief Mike Oghiadome to speak on his behalf.
Azazi died nine days ago with then-governor of Kaduna State, Patrick Yakowa, their aides and two pilots when the Navy chopper conveying them from Bayelsa to Port Harcourt crashed few minutes after takeoff.
President Jonathan, received by late Azazi’s wife, children, grandchildren and some other members of the family, signed the condolence register with members of his entourage, which included Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah; Minister of Petroleum Resource, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke; Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada, Special Adviser to the President on Research and Documentation, Mr. Oronto Douglas and others.
Oghiadome told the family that Nigerians shares in the family’s grief because of Azazi’s importance to both his family and the country.
He described the late Azazi as a great man, a diligent officer and patriot, saying that the president had already organised a special Federal Executive Council (FEC) session in his honour, where various council members spoke glowingly about him. He added that the country would not forget his role in making life of the people better.
“He rose by merit to become a four-star general, and because the president had confidence in him, he was made the NSA,” he said, recalling also that the late soldier chaired the Flood Committee of Bayelsa State, which was most affected by rthe recent flooding calamity in the country.
“Azazi had international recognition for his roles in the Nigerian and international societies. I urged the family to be strengthened that the man lived a good life while alive. Although it is very painful, the family members cannot continue to live in grief.”
He prayed for God to grant him eternal rest and fill the vacuum he left.
Chaplain of Aso Villa Chapel, Rev. Obioma Onwuzurumba was also in the entourage, and he prayed for God to grant the late Azazi eternal rest.