The funeral service was held at The Church of Christ in Nations, LCC Millennium Quarters in Bauchi
ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi –
Family members, friends and hundreds sympathizers gathered on Wednesday at the Church of Christ in Nations, LCC Millennium Quarters in Bauchi for the funeral service of three people who died in a ghastly auto crash while returning from a wedding in Jos.
The deceased included the father of a bride who wedded last Saturday, Joseph Dadi (62), the driver of the vehicle, Gideon Ayuba (39) and one other lady, Mrs. Mary Goddy (31). Dadi’s wife, Paulina, who was also involved in the crash, is said to be receiving treatment at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi.
NATIONAL ACCORD learnt that the lone crash occurred less than 30 kilometers to Bauchi metropolis while they were returning to Bauchi from Jos, Plateau State where the wedding took place.
Dadi a retired Personal Assistant to the Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Prof. Elias Bogoro, was until his death, a Board Member, Bauchi State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board. Ayuba until his death, was the personal driver to the Special Adviser on Legal Matters to Bauchi State Governor, Barrister Kefas Magaji. While Goddy died as a staff of SEDO Microfinance Bank, Bauchi.
The Commissioner of Agriculture in Bauchi state, Mbami Tula, who led the state government’s delegation, called on the bereaved families and the entire Church to get closer to God in such moments of grief because only him can truly give comfort.
He said: “The governor has asked us to extend his condolences to the families of the deceased. Death is inevitable for everyone but how we die, differs. And because of this, in every situation we find ourselves, we should give thanks to God because he allowed it to happen.
“For the people of Bogoro and Tafawa Balewa, these are great deaths for us to lose three people at a time, it is not easy. For the close relations of these deceased, only God will comfort you. Anywhere such things happen, the government is always with the people because they placed the government in power”, he said.
Governor Bala Mohammed’s Special Adviser on Legal Matters, Kefas Magaji, while speaking at the funeral service, described the incident as tragic and devastating, saying that Dadi was his friend for a long time while Ayuba was his staff for 19 years.
“I feel devastated by these deaths because Joseph Dadi was my close friend for so many years while Gideon has been my staff for close to 19 years. God has called them and I’ve accepted what has happened in good faith.
“On Friday, my friend, Joseph Dadi, called me that since I won’t make it to his daughter’s wedding in Jos, I should give him my car to use although he has a car but he needed my Jeep because of the terrain of where the wedding will take place. I gave him my Prado jeep and asked Gideon to drive him.
“At about 9pm while I was returning from a meeting I had, Gideon’s wife called me that her husband was not yet back, but I calmed her down that all was well and I told her to go and sleep. Just about two minutes later, my friend called me that Gideon had an accident and he had died.
“I couldn’t believe the story, so I entered my house and stood outside for a long time without knowing what to do. Finally, I went in and told my wife. But I still didn’t know what to do. I started making calls and I was later told that some of them were in the hospital.
“So I drove to the hospital and as I was getting in, the lady (Mary) gave up. Gideon and Joseph Dadi were brought to the hospital as corpses. But the other lady had a fracture and died the next day, Sunday,” he said.
He further said that: “Joseph was my good friend for many years and for us to lose him at this time, we thought it was too early but for the creator and giver, this is the right time to take him. For me, Gideon’s death is one of the greatest losses I have ever had but I am so comforted because people have shown me so much support.”
Also speaking, the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Bauchi State, Rev. Abraham Damina described the incident as tragic saying that the church is in pains.
“The death of these three people who are all members of this Church is quite unfortunate. I pray to God not to allow these kinds of deaths or incidents happen again.
“Honestly, the Church in Bauchi is in pains because we lost these people at the same time but we can’t query God, he knows why this happened. But one lesson I’ve learnt from this is that life is nothing,” he stated.
The Chairman, Bogoro local government who also spoke on behalf of Tafawa Balewa LGA, Iliya Habila, said: ” We are here to share in this grieve, the painful exits of three people but this is the reality and summary of life.
“From birth to death, they are mysteries, only God can explain to us. These people are no more, we are the ones that are grieved and pained, we must seek comfort from God because there are lessons.”
After the funeral service, the remains of Dadi and Ayuba were interred at the Christian Cemetery, Yelwa Bauchi, while Goddy was taken to Murai in Bogoro local government area of the state where she was also buried.
