NEWS
Emotions Flow Freely as Eminent Scholar, Prof Ker Passes On
The nation’s intellectual community was stunned with grief as Prof David Ker, a frontline Intellectual and Literary Scholar died Friday afternoon at a private hospital in Makurdi, the Benue state capital. He was 70 years old.
There was no official statement from the family but DAILY ASSET gathered that the quintessential Academicwas generally of good health and had atte ded public functions in both Abuja and Makurdi in the last one week before he suddenly took ill and died.
Ker, who in June marked his 70th birthday with a Thanksgiving Mass in Makurdi, attended by a mammoth crowd of elites was formerly Vice Chancellor of Benue State University Makurdi and later, Vice Chancellor, Veritas University, Abuja.
He also had a brief stint at the National Universities Commission(NUC) as a Consulting Director where he worked to improve quality and standards in the Nigerian University system.An indigene of Gwer LGA of Benue state, Ker served as Commissioner of Education in Benue State and was a gubernatorial aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in the 2015 elections.
He held many other positions of note and recently was appointed a Member of the Board of Trustees of North Central Peoples Forum(NCPF).
He was married with children.
In an early reaction, former Senate President, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, an associate of Ker described the deceased as somebody with a kind heart.
” A greta man with a a great heart, a great intellect and great mind- Gone. Good night, my brother” Ayu wrote on his verified Facebook page.
A long standing friend of the deceased and Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to Canada, Prof Iyorwuese Hagher said he was shocked to hear of Ker’s demise after hosting him to a dinner in his Abuja residence about a week ago.
“We submit to the will of Almighty God. May the Lord accept his soul in Heaven,” Hagher, a former Minister told DAILY ASSET in an interview.
A Former Governorship aspirant in benue state and colleague of the deceased, Dr Tivlumun Nyitse in his reaction said Prof Ker was an exceptional person who made tremendous impact on humanity and his community in partocular.
“This life is indeed a mystery. Barely two months ago we were all over jubilating and celebrating your 70th birthday, little did we know that it was your nunc dimittis. Prof Ker, you were one exceptional person that words alone can’t say who you were and the impact you’ve made on humanity. Our interview with you to commemorate your birthday is due in the forthcoming ANA Review and you’ve not lived to read it, especially when you acclaimed the interview was the toughest you’ve had in a long time, but it was worth the trouble. Rest on our Professor David Ker, OON,” Nyitse said in a statement.
The Dean, Faculty of Arts, Federal University, Lafia and a mentee of the late Ker, Prof Okpeh Okpeh in his reaction described the departed Academic as a unique mentor, whose works had enduring impact across generations.
” Few months ago, We all gathered to honour A Profound Scholar, Quintessential and Consummate University Administrator, A Statesman and an All time Mentor And Unique Icon Who has Had the Most Enduring Impact Across Generations. Sir, as You Bow to Your Creator, Your Wonderful Memories Shall Abide in Us for Ages. You Were Truly a Great Man. Peace, PROFESSIR DAVID I. KER, My very, very, very Senior Oga!” Said Okpeh on his Facebook page.
The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, Thursday and Jan.1, 2025 as public holidays.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Ministry of Interior’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Magdalene Ajani, on Monday in Abuja.
According to Ajani, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said that the public holidays were to enable citizens to celebrate Christmas, Boxing Day and the New Year respectively.
“The Christmas season is a good moment for both spiritual reflection and national renewal.
“As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, let us demonstrate kindness and extend goodwill to one another, irrespective of our differences,” the Minister.
Tunji-Ojo emphasised the importance of the season as a time to foster harmony and to strengthen bonds across families and communities.
He assured citizens of the federal government’s continued commitment to ensuring peace, security, and prosperity across the nation.
He further expressed confidence in the renewed hope agenda of President Tinubu’s administration for a better and prosperous economy in 2025.
The Minister, on behalf of the federal government sent warm greetings to all Nigerians, urging them to use the festive period to reflect on the values of love, peace, and unity that the season signifies.(NAN)
Some suspected hoodlums on Saturday attacked the palace of Etsu Lokoja, Chief Emmanuel Dauda-Shelika, Nyamkpa IV, burning properties within the premises, including a vehicle.
The palace, located on plot 306, New Layout, Lokoja, was allegedly attacked by hoodlums at about 1:00 am on Saturday.
The Nupe Natives of Lokoja Development Union were planning to host the 2nd edition of the Nupe Natives end-of-the-year event, tagged “Lokoja ’24 Nupe Cultural Fiesta,” on Dec.
21, 2024, before the incident occurred.The event was, however, aborted due to the unfortunate attack.
Dauda-Shelika said this on Monday in Lokoja that he heard a big bang on my door at around 1 am.
“I woke up to check through the window, wondering what could have happened.
“Then, I suddenly saw wildfire coming out of my car that was set ablaze by attackers.
“I knew it was an attack on the palace, and therefore I could not come out because of fear of being attacked. So, I managed to come out through the back door and scaled the fence to escape for my life.
“Thereafter, I came out to the road and realised that all my neighbours in the community were on the ground trying hard to quench the fire, but unfortunately the car was burnt as well as other properties inside it.”
The traditional ruler appealed to the government and security agencies to investigate the cause of the attack and bring perpetrators and their sponsors to justice.
He admonished Nupe natives in Lokoja to avoid any reprisal attack but continue to remain peaceful and law abiding and allow the government and security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation of the attack.
“We are appealing to Gov. Ahmed Ododo and security agencies to please use their good offices to investigate this unfortunate incident and bring to justice whoever is concerned, whether directly or indirectly.
“We also want the government to kindly visit our issues by recognising and grading the stool of Etsu Lokoja, which had been in existence before colonisation,” he said.
He stated that the Lokoja Local Government Area chairman and his security team came for an on-the-spot assessment that Saturday morning, as well as the police and other security outfits.
The National President, Nupe Natives Union Lokoja, Alh. Abubakar Ndashite, said the event scheduled for Saturday was a celebration of Nupe cultural heritage and not any form of coronation as being insinuated from some quarters.
Ndashite, who doubles as the chairman of the planning committee, said the aborted event was to project the Nupe spirit and culture as well as the rich history of the diversely composed Lokoja community and the peaceful and harmonious coexistence among her.
He expressed his displeasure over the aborted cultural event, noting that the union had expended so much on it, and urged the government to bring perpetrators to book. (NAN)
The Abia Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed the death of eight persons with two others injured in a road traffic crash that occurred along the Bende-Ohafia Road.
A statement by the Sector Commander, Mrs Ngozi Ezeoma, on Monday in Umuahia said that the crash occurred on Sunday along the Mmuri River axis of the road in Ohafia Local Government Area of the state.
She said the crash involved a Trailer carrying chippings which hit and fell on a Sharon Volkswagen vehicle with 10 persons on board.
“At the time of the crash eight persons had died including a woman standing by the roadside and three were injured.
“The injured victims were taken to the hospital while the dead ones were deposited at the morgue,” she said.
Ezeoma said that preliminary investigation revealed that the crash was caused by dangerous driving and excessive speeding. (NAN)
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