President Goodluck Jonathan today described the 2015 Valentine’s Day as “black Saturday” because of the death of 11 women politicians from Bayelsa who lost their lives in a ghastly car crash on Feb. 14.

Jonathan expressed the feeling at a funeral service in honour of the women in Yenagoa.

He said: “This year’s Valentine’s Day is a black Saturday in the history of Bayelsa. It is true that death is a necessary end that will come when it will come. Therefore, I urge you, the bereaved families, to be courageous as you mourn; I must say that these great women are so dear to me.

“They are my sisters, cousins and aunties; as this world remains a stage that we all come to play our part, I enjoin the bereaved families to accept our condolences.”

Also speaking, the wife of the president, Dame Patience Jonathan, said that the women had left behind memories of love, not only to the people of Bayelsa but Nigerians.

“These ladies, who have died were faithful followers and hardworking; we have gone through thick and thin in many ways in promotion of women,” she said.

“I urge everyone to learn how to appreciate our loved ones because we do not know what tomorrow will bring. I must say that I have truly lost my good friends; may their souls rest in peace,” the First Lady added.

Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa said the special funeral service was held because of the selfless service the women, who died on their way back from paying a courtesy call on Dame Jonathan in Port Harcourt, rendered to the state.

Dickson said that their contributions to the development of Bayelsa could not be over-emphasised and promised that the state would continue to remember them.

He, however, described the incident as “terrible tragedy” to the people of Bayelsa and urged well-meaning people in the state not to leave the bereaved families alone.

“Let us continue to pray and support them as they mourn their loved ones. I thank everyone, who has come to commensurate with the people of Bayelsa, may God be with you all,” Dickson said.

In his Sermon, Pastor Zilly Aggrey, Founder of Royal House of Grace, urged every individual to be faithful to God because death had no respect to anyone.

“You may not know the pains that come when someone dies until you are a victim; human beings need not to question the wonders of God’s creation,” Aggrey said.

“Today or tomorrow, nobody knows when to die; whether you are going to live a 100 years, you do not know; life is a mystery,” he added.

•President Jonathan.