By Uche Amunike
The Yobe State Commissioner for Youth, Sports, Social and Community Development, Goni Bukar Lawan has died, Tuesday, in a ghastly motor accident along the Damaturu-Kano highway.
Lawan, who was a former member of the House of Representatives, representing Bursari, Geidam and Yunusari Federal Constituency, had reportedly attended the funeral ceremony of his friend, who was the Director of Finance and Supply of Upstream NNPC, Hassan Gambo in Damaturu on that fateful Tuesday, before taking off for Kano on official trip, during which he met his death at a community in Bauchi state called Dambam.
The death of Goni Bukar Lawan was confirmed by the Director, General Press Affairs to Governor Buni, Mamman Mohammed, who made the information public to Channels Television.
According to him, the remains of the deceased commissioner has been deposited at the Yobe State University Teaching Hospital in Damaturu.
As for two of his friends who were with him when the accident took place, they are both presently receiving treatment in a health facility in the state.
In reaction, the Zonal Commanding Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Zone 12, covering Bauchi, Borno and Yobe states, Assistant Corps Marshal Rotimi Adeleye stated that the mishap occurred adjacent to A.Y Dagauda Filling Station, adding that the cause of the accident was yet to be identified, even though it is possible that the doctor must have lost control.
His words: ‘The accident involved one Lexus Jeep with registration number 11A-01YB Yobe state on his way from Damaturu to Kano’.
Meanwhile, the Governor of Yobe state, has been thrown into deep mourning since he got the news of the demise of Goni Bukar Lawan and has described his death as a great loss, not just to his family, but to Yobe state and Nigeria as a whole.
His remains have since been interred according to Muslim rites at Gwange Cemetery in the state capital, Damaturu.
His funeral was attended by hundreds of people including the state governor, Mai Mala Buni at the Yobe Mosque and Islamic Centre.
Governor Buni, even though he was deeply saddened by Goni Bukar Lawan’s death, has resigned all to fate. He has described him as an active, reliable and result-oriented member of the State Executive Council.
Hear him: ‘Late Goni Bukar, fondly called Bugon, died in a road traffic accident near Dambam in Bauchi state on his way to Kano.
‘A lot of sympathisers in tears, thronged his Damaturu GRA residence to condole with his family and Governor Buni who was at the residence.
‘Governor Buni prayed to Allah (SWT) to forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljannatur Firdaus, and to the family, the fortitude to bear the irreparable and painful loss’, Mamman was quoted in the statement.
The late Goni Bukar Lawan had the following as his last post on his WhatsApp status: ‘We live in a competitive world where I want to be better than you. Listen Gentle Men and Ladies, Sun and Moon all have their own time of Shining. If it’s not yours yet, be patient, celebrate your colleague who is there already.
Don’t worry, run your race, be gentle with yourself.
‘This life and everything in it, are temporary’.
