Newly sworn-in Jos-East LG Chairman dies in road accident

Dr Hosea Azi, who was sworn in as Chairman, Jos-East Local Government in Plateau on Friday, is dead, the state government announced on Monday.

The Governor, Mr Simon Lalong, in a statement in Jos, described Azi’s death in a motor accident at Garaku, Nasarawa State, on Sunday, as “very shocking”.

“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,” Lalong said in the statement signed by his Director of Press Affairs, Mr Emmanuel Nanle.

The statement explained that Azi died in an accident on his way to Abuja, when the vehicle he was travelling in, rammed into a stationary truck resulting in the death of the Chairman and two others.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 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”.

Lalong described Azi as an astute politician and an academic of repute, who was appointed into government to provide the needed people-oriented leadership having garnered experience as a member of the Plateau House of Assembly.

The statement, however, debunked the initial speculation that Azi had the accident with kidnappers that were racing away with him toward an unknown destination.

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

The governor expressed government’s condolences to the people of Jos- East, as well as the family of the deceased, and prayed God to grant everyone the fortitude to bear the loss.