Yakowa died on Saturday, December 15, 2012 in a helicopter crash at Okoroba in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State along with a former National Security Adviser, Gen. Andrew Azazi; and four others.
In a tribute at the burial service held at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Jonathan described Yakowa as a “bridge builder” who loved his people irrespective of their religion and tribe, reports say.
He described December 15 as a “dark Saturday.
“Yakowa was a nationalist. He played his roles very well as a civil servant of old, not as a civil servant of today when a director has more houses than Dangote.
“No ethnic or religious divide in his blood,” he said.
The president pledged the continued support of the government to the immediate family of the deceased.
He also appealed to leaders to guard their utterances in public and in private against those things that could divide and destroy the nation.
He urged the senior citizens to emphasise those things that unite the nation instead of the issues that can divide the country.
“Utterances and words of elders are just like winds and waves that move, gather momentum and cause destructive effects of which the end results of such destruction cannot be predicted.
“Responses of our young men and women are reflections of what the elders talk in public and even in private,” he said.
Earlier in a message, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Rev. Mathew Kukah, said no one could teach God knowledge or question his decisions.
He, therefore, said people should not feel despondent over the death of Yakowa.
He said the deceased died at his appointed time by God and urged the people to ignore those who are wielding suspicious story about his death.
He debunked the purported claim that some Muslims in the state were rejoicing over the death of Yakowa.
He noted that a former head of state and devout Muslim, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, cancelled his 70th birthday in honour of Yakowa.
He said the deceased made his marks as the first child from the Christian dominated southern part of Kaduna to attain the top position at various levels of government.
Kukah said Yakowa also broke the jinx by becoming the first Christian executive governor of Kaduna.
He said the feat had seemed unattainable in the state because of certain interests who were playing politics of exclusion based on religion.
Kukah said the achievements of Yakowa as governor, particularly in development and in building bridges of unity, were testimonies to the fact that governance was not an exclusive right of a group.
Kukah inspired the youths from southern Kaduna to emulate the good traits of Yakowa and be confident in themselves that they could achieve lofty positions in the state and beyond.
He urged them not to surrender to doubts and feelings of inferiority.
He also called on Yakowa’s successor, Governor Ramalan Yero, to ignore the parochial opinion of some people who were still advocating politics of exclusion in the state.
“Do not be tempted by what the wicked people claim - that the Muslims have taken back what belongs to them. The politics of exclusion should be reversed for the creation of a just and even society.
“This is what South Africa and America have realised and done. We must seek men and women of integrity for position of authority as oppose to religious sentimentality.
“We must rise up to build a united Nigeria,” he said.
Cardinal John Onaiyekan, assisted by other clergy, conducted the Requiem and the Eucharist Mass.
Among the dignitaries at the burial were a former head of state, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar; the Senate President, David Mark; and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal.
Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, and his wife, Judith; as well as Governors Babangida Aliyu of Niger, Gabriel Suswam of Benue and Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo were also in attendance.
Also in attendance were Deputy Governors James Ngilari of Adamawa; Peter Kishira of Kwara; Abubakar Aliyu of Yobe; Umar Mustapha of Borno; and Damishi Lucas of Nasarawa.
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur; his predecessors - Chief Solomon Lar, Chief Audu Ogbe, Alhaji Ahmadu Ali as well as a former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Prof Jerry Gana, were also in attendance.
Also in attendance were ministers; the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki; and some aides of the president.
Born on December 1, 1948, Yakowa was appointed deputy governor of Kaduna State in July 2005, and returned as deputy governor in the April 2007 elections.
He was sworn in as governor on May 20, 2010, replacing former governor Namadi Sambo who had been sworn in as Vice President the day before.
Yakowa successfully ran for election as Kaduna Governor in the 26 April 2011 polls.
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