Akpo-Olade and Pelede, the first daughter and the last son of the
late Gen. Andrew Azazi, said the former National Security Adviser left
behind unfinished business.
The traumatised children in their tributes at the burial of their
father, named the Yenagoa City Centre project as top on the list of the
unfinished business.
Akpo-Olade in her tribute on Saturday, said her father was passionate
about developing the city centre, adding that he spent much time
designing the project.
She also said her father dreamt of establishing a factory that would produce special fruit juice in the country.
Her father’s visions and dreams for better Nigeria and Bayelsa State,
including the city centre project, she said, were the first things she
remembered when she received the report of the December 15 helicopter
crash in which Azazi and five others were killed.
Akpo-Olade, who gave the late Azazi his first grand child, said she
never believed that her father was on board the ill-fated helicopter
until her brother confirmed the report to her.
She, however, regretted being outside the country when the incident happened.
She said, “I remember the day my sister called me, I was out of the
country. She called me to say that there was an helicopter crash and
that there was a possibility that our father was in the helicopter.
“I screamed and said it can’t be possible. I remembered all his
dreams and visions and l said to God, this can’t be possible. What is
going to happen to all the things he believed in and fought for.
“I remember the Yenagoa City Centre, something that he derived joy
from when he talked. He presented this to so many people; they were
excited about it. I say God for his dreams, please don’t let it be.
“But I had to accept the reality when my brother told me that he was
dead. At this point I said God why did I have to be away when this thing
happened.”
Similarly, Pelede said his father was planning to establish a foundation before the unfortunate incident.
He said, “I was together with my father all the day before this thing
happened. We talked about different things ranging from values and
foundation and how to better peoples lives.
“My father was a very good person. He touched a lot of lives from
both officers of the Nigerian Army and civilians. He was a man of
virtue.”