The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi and his running mate, Yusuf Baba-Ahmed, have expressed sadness over the gruesome killing of Daniel Yatai, 86, by gunmen.

Mr Yatai, the father of Philip Yatai, a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) journalist, was killed by gunmen around 11:15 p.m. on Tuesday at his home in Manchok, Kaura local government area of Kaduna.

Messrs Obi and Baba-Ahmed, in a telephone call with the journalist on Saturday, consoled the family and urged them to accept the sad incident as the will of God.

“They grieved with our family and encouraged us to stay strong and strengthen our belief that God is in control. Obi particularly said that God allowed our father to die for a reason,” said Mr Yatai. “On his part, Baba-Ahmed pointed out that everyone has a time to die and encouraged us to accept our father’s demise as a call from God.” 

The journalist added that the Labour Party candidates asked the family to continue to pray for the country.

Mr Yatai said his father, to be buried on Friday, was a retiree of the Nigeria Railway Corporation.

“Our father was blessed with 13 children, 32 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was a jovial fellow with a big heart full of love. We will uphold his legacy and keep his memories alive,” Mr Yatai stated. 

(NAN)