?Dickson wept openly on seeing the bodies of Azazi and Yakowa at the mortuary.
Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa has declared a 3-day mourning in?honour of late Gen. Owoeye Azazi and Gov. Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna who?died in a helicopter crash on Saturday in Bayelsa.
Dickson, who gave the order on Sunday shortly after inspecting the?remains of the crash victims at the mortuary of the Federal Medical?Centre, Yenagoa, said the death of Azazi and Yakowa was a great loss?to the nation.
“I hereby direct three-day mourning in memory and honour of our?departed heroes who have left us so sudden. During the three days, all?flags will fly at half mast in honour and remembrance of the dead,” he?said.
The governor, who condoled with President Goodluck Jonathan as the?nation mourns victims of the crash, prayed to God to give the families?of the deceased persons the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
“This is indeed a very sad day in the history of our state and?nation. Today, we mourn the death of our great leaders who have lost?their lives in the unfortunate crash. The deaths of Azazi and Yakowa?are irreparable loss to the nation. On behalf of the government and?good people of Bayelsa, I wish to express our profound condolences to
the government and people of Kaduna State and the nation at large,”?Dickson said.
Dickson expressed regrets that Azazi?s death came at a time his?service to the state and humanity was most needed, noting that the?death “is indeed a monumental loss to the people of Bayelsa. For?Azazi, I have no word to express the profound sense of loss that has?befallen our state, ?Bayelsa, on the loss of our great son and leader.
“This is a man that was only recently made the chairman of the state?post-flood management committee to help in the process of?rehabilitation of thousand of our people who were displaced by the?recent flood in the state,” Dickson said.
The governor, who could not hold back his tears, also described the?late Yakowa as a great Nigerian who had come to Bayelsa to identify?with the people of the state at the funeral of late Pa Douglas,?father, of a Presidential aide, Mr Oronto Douglas.
“For the people of Kaduna State, we feel a deep sense of loss for?their governor who came visiting and never returned home,” Dickson?said.
Late Azazi and Yakowa, along with their personal aides and pilots,?died in a Naval helicopter crash, off the mangrove swamp of Okoroba?community. The aircraft, NN-07, carrying the victims was reported to?be heading for Port Harcourt after leaving Okoroba community, in Nembe
Local Government Area where the victims attended a burial.
