SO SAD: Jos Local Government Chairman Dies In Auto Crash

Reports just reaching us indicate that the newly sworn in local government chairman of Jos-East council area of the state, Dr Hosea Azi, is dead.

NAN reports that the death of the chairman who was sworn in on Friday, December 11, was made known by the state government in a statement issued in Jos, by Governor Simon Lalong.

The statement revealed that Azi died in an auto crash that occurred at Garaku, Nasarawa state, on Sunday, December 13.

The governor who described the tragic incident as “very shocking,” said: “I received the news of the sudden demise of the newly sworn-in Management Committee Chairman of Jos East Local Government Council, Dr Hosea Azi, with great shock.”

In the statement which was signed by the director of press affairs, Mr Emmanuel Nanle, Lalong hinted that the council boss died in an accident on his way to Abuja, when the vehicle he was travelling in, rammed into a stationary truck. He said the chairman and two other occupants of the vehicle died on the spot.

The governor said Azi was an astute politician and academic of repute, adding that he was appointed into government to give the needed people-oriented leadership following the wealth of experience he gathered during his membership of the Plateau House of Assembly.

However, the statement denied earlier reports that Azi had an accident while fleeing away from kidnappers that were allegedly chasing him to an unknown destination.

“Family sources have dismissed such rumour; government has actually confirmed that the death occurred while he was on his way to a legitimate function in Abuja,” the statement said.

Governor Lalong sympathised with the people of Jos-East over the sad incident, as well as the family and relatives of the late council boss. He prayed God to give them the strength to bear the irreplaceable loss.

Meanwhile, Azi was sworn in to replace Mr Sanda Daura, who was removed from office, “in response to the yearnings of the People of Jos East.”

Recall that Premium Times reported that Hosea Azi, the newly appointed transition committee chairman of Jos East local government area of Plateau state was kidnapped and killed by his abductors. The medium alleged that a family source said Azi was kidnapped on Friday, December 11, on Miango Road in Kufang, near the former NYSC secretariat in Jos South local government area of the state.