Azazi: Nigeria Lost a Great Man, Says Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday visited the family of former National Security Adviser (NSA), the late Gen. Andrew Azazi, at his Lagos residence at about 10.20 am and held a closed-door meeting with the widow, Alero, children and grandchildren of the deceased for several minutes.

Although details of the meeting were not disclosed, a family source said the president was briefed on the funeral arrangements and expressed his condolences to the family.

The body of the late Azazi is expected to be buried this weekend at his hometown in Bayelsa State.
Azazi and former Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Yakowa, along with four others, died on December 15 when the navy helicopter conveying them to Port Harcourt from Okoroba in Nembe area of Bayelsa State crashed in the creeks.
Yakowa has since been buried at his hometown in Fadan Kagoma, Kaduna State.

The president, who did not speak at the open session, which held in the living room downstairs before he proceeded to the meeting with the family, later signed the condolence register opened at the Azazis’ house in which he described Azazi’s death as a great loss to the nation.
“Nigeria has lost a man, a great man! I personally felt bad when I heard the news of General Azazi’s death. May God, our Father, give the family the fortitude to bear the loss,” the president wrote.

Meanwhile, the family of the deceased has continued with the burial arrangements, which will kick off on Thursday with a service of songs at his residence in Ikoyi.

Azazi’s internment will hold on December 29 as earlier confirmed by his first son, Owoye Jnr., at his hometown in Bayelsa.