By Matthew Mahmood
Rtd General Owoye Andrew Azazi (1 February 1952 – 15 December 2012)
Nigeria's former National Security Adviser retired General Owoye Andrew Azazi died in a tragic air crash that claimed the lives of six people including Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa of Kaduna State. Critics denounced how the youth of Kaduna took to the streets to rejoice Yakowa’s death. The youth probably disliked Yakowa due to his inability to refute the sexual allegation against him. His alleged naked picture was circulated on BlackBerry, Twitter and the internet. Some commentators said that it was photo shopped in order to dent the governor’s image. The governor’s advisers refused to advise him on the need to react to the rumour on his sexual status as if it was not important.
The way the new governor was hurriedly sworn in on a Sunday before Yakowa was buried was probably more heartless than the jubilation in the streets of Kaduna because there is no smoke without fire. Were the youth not encouraged to mock the death of the governor when it was obvious that some members of the state government were laughing in secrecy? If you were on good terms with your colleague while he was alive, his untimely death would put you in a mourning mood rather than rush to be sworn in with smiles et al. The display of heartlessness in Kaduna State was horrendous. Nigerian governors want an independent probe into the air crash. They want to hire an investigator. Were they suspicious?
Azazi was one of the most popular military men in Nigeria. He lost his job as President Goodluck Jonathan’s security adviser after making a valid comment against the ruling Peoples Democrat Party on terrorism. As a former director of Military Intelligence Azazi had loyalists, some of them are presently retired army and naval officers. They have always said positive things about him as an upright man and mentor. He was also the former Chief of Defence Staff. It was widely speculated that the helicopter crash was a political assassination. It shocked Azazi’s loyalists, especially because the naval helicopter burst into flames. It took several people days to believe that Azazi was dead. The Military Intelligence may conduct private investigation and could retaliate if Azazi was actually assassinated. Naval officers are nicknamed ‘mad dogs’ in Nigeria because they can be deadlier than the army sometimes. Naval pilots also died in the crash. It must be emphasized that Azazi was a retired army general who died in a naval helicopter.
If Azazi had not attended the funeral of President Jonathan’s Special Adviser on Research and Documentation, Oronto Douglas’ father in Okoroba, a remote community in the creeks of Bayelsa State, he and five others would not have died tragically. Motor roads do not lead to the venue therefore only helicopters and boats can travel there. Azazi may not be buried in Peretorugbene, where he hailed from in Bayelsa State because the community has the same transportation problems like Okoroba. Dignitaries do not want to travel there by helicopter because they are afraid of accidents that could send them to the great beyond although death is inevitable in a person’s lifespan. Alternatively, Azazi is to be buried on 29 December in Yenagoa instead of Peretorugbene in Bayelsa State.
State governments should not buy and maintain private jets when they could use the money to sort out transportation problems. Azazi should be buried in Peretorugbene. Why can’t billionaires with yachts allow terrified dignitaries to travel in their yachts to Peretorugbene for Azazi's funeral? Why can’t the state government hire or buy modern speed boats for the funeral? Can’t Azazi’s friends contribute money in order to ferry people to and fro? Not all helicopters in Nigeria are flying coffins. Vanity upon vanity yet rich people cannot carry money to heaven or hell! It would be on record that a general did not get a befitting burial because of scared and selfish dignitaries if Azazi is not buried in Peretorugbene.
Azazi’s funeral likely Dec 29
Peretorugbue weeps over Azazi
General Azazi To Be Buried in Yenagoa As Hometown Accessible Only By Helicopter
President Goodluck Jonathan signing the condolence register in Azazi's Lagos residence
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We the chiefs, elders and youths of Peretorugbene community are not against our son’s burial in Yenagoa, but what we are against is the repercussion that would follow. It is on record that the late Azazi’s grand father, whose name he chose to answer instead of his own father, James, as is practised in Ijaw nation, was also a victim of wrong burial. He was wrongfully buried in Egbeme-Angalabiri and his body was later exhumed for proper burial, after series of calamity befell the Azazi family and this action was supervised by the late General.
—The Sun
Azazi's funeral: Governors, ministers other VIPs shun helicopters at airport
Azazi’s burial in Yenagoa will spell doom—Family, community warn
Azazi’s funeral: Community, govt disagree over burial place
Azazi buried in Yenegoa amidst protest from kinsmen
Azazi’s kinsmen threaten to boycott burial
Tributes galore as Azazi is buried
