How APC, Tinubu abandoned Jesutega Onokpasa while bedridden – Friends

It was an emotional moment mixed with anger at the weekend during a candle light memorial gathering in honour of a member of Tinubu Support Group, Jesutega Onokpasa, who died recently after bedridden for some time.

Organizers of the event, mostly friends within the ruling All Progressives Congress, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of the party to quickly have a change of minds by giving a befitting burial to the late APC chieftain.

Onokpasa, a lawyer and member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in the 2023 general elections, was a popular face on Televisions and other media, who campaigned vigorously for the incumbent President, died at 49 recently.

The APC members who organized the candle night in his honour, however lamented the kind of treatment melted against the late Onokpasa, saying it could be any one of them.

The gathering called on the Presidency and the governing party not to only recognised and honor Onokpasa but should also accord him a beffiting burial.

Director General, Tinubu Support Group (TSG), Dr. Umar Tanko Yakassai, said the late Onokpasa was “one of the very vibrant, very active and very energetic members of the party, and he worked tirelessly for the success of the party in the last general elections.”

The convener of the solemn ceremony and the National Coordinator of National Progressives Hub, Hon. Bukkie Okangbe said the party had lost a voice.

She noted that Onokpasa was a very vocal voice during and after the last election, adding that he would be greatly missed as the party prepares for 2027 elections.

Okangbe, who was in tears while fielding questions from reporters after the ceremony, appealed to the Federal Government and the ruling party to give the late Onokpasa a beffiting burial and come to the aid of his family.

“This is an emotional gathering, but we thank God for today. We don’t have much to say. We are not here to talk. We are just appealing to the party to make sure they do the needful and give him a befitting burial. As a family, we’ve been able to show him the love he deserves as a fellow comrade. We should be there for ourselves in times like this.

“As we are mourning him, and we are appealing to the government and the party to make sure they give him a befitting burial.”

For Nwaorisa Gerald, spokesperson SouthEast Youth Stakeholders Forum, the late Onokpasa was a leader who defended APC with his body and soul and made thousands of enemies for himself while standing for the party.

Late Barr. Jesutega Onokpasa was my best friend, I see him as my elder brother. I am appealing to the government, and the party APC in general is that he deserves a befitting burial. Barrister toiled and labored for APC, waged war for APC, labeled and called all sorts of names because of APC.”

In a statement posted on his Facebook page, National Convener, Bola Tinubu School to School (BTSTS), Hon. Shehu Atta, described Barr. Jesutega as a man of uncommon candour, generosity, and courage.

” He was widely respected for his sincerity, intellectual clarity, and unshakable commitment to the ideals of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to President Bola Tinubu’s vision, and to the future of Nigeria.

” With deep sorrow and a profound sense of loss, we mourn the passing of our brother, comrade, and patriot — Barr. Jesutega Onokpasa. A loyal progressive, a devoted Jagabanist, and a man of unwavering conviction who stood firmly by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu — from the heat of the campaigns to the dawn of this administration — until he was called to eternal rest.

“On behalf of the Bola Tinubu School to School Campaigns, we earnestly and humbly appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of our great party, the APC, to honour his memory with a befitting burial. We also plead that his beloved family and dependents be remembered and supported in this moment of great loss.”