TheNewsGuru

Tag: Mourn

  • Buhari, Saraki, Ekweremadu, others mourn late Wakil

    President Muhammadu Buhari has described the death of Sen. Ali Wakil from Bauchi State as “an incalculable’ loss to Nigeria’s democracy.

    The President in a condolence message issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Saturday, said that the death of the senator came as a great shock to him.

    President Buhari observed that late Wakil’s dedication to duty would remain one of the greatest virtues for which he would be remembered.

    “The passion for duty was one of the finest qualities of late Senator Wakil,’’ he added.

    He, therefore, urged other democratically elected leaders to borrow a leaf from the deceased’s record of dedication.

    While praying to Allah to bless the soul of the departed senator, President Buhari also extended his condolences to his family, his colleagues in the National Assembly, as well as the government and people of Bauchi State over the loss.

    In similar vein, President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, also expressed sadness representative of Bauchi South Senatorial District at the Senate.

    A tearful Saraki, according to a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu, on Saturday in Abuja, described the deceased as “vibrant lawmaker”, very passionate about his assignment in the Senate.

    “This is especially so with his chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Poverty Alleviation and other committees where he was a member.

    “Malam Ali Wakili is one lawmaker you can never be in doubt where he stands on a particular issue. He spoke his mind fearlessly.

    “His contributions at plenary were always very incisive and rich. I find it difficult to acknowledge that he will not resume plenary with us next Tuesday,” he said.

    “My heart goes out to his family, the 8th Senate and the government and people of Bauchi State over the loss of this conscientious and patriotic Nigerian. He shall be sorely missed,” he added.

    Saraki prayed Allah to grant Wakili a place among the righteous in Aljannah Firdaus and his family and loved ones the fortitude to bear the loss.

    Similarly, Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, has expressed shock and sadness over the death of Wakili, describing him as a “diligent and courageous lawmaker”.

    He said: “I received with rude shock the news of the passing on of my friend, brother, colleague and ally, Distinguished Sen. Wakil Ali.

    “Senator Wakili’s stint at the National Assembly has no doubt been cut short, but it was long enough to prove himself a forthright, patriotic, diligent, and courageous politician.

    “He respected his conviction and loved his fatherland. He stood for what he believed was right and worked for the unity of Nigeria.

    “It is indeed a grave, personal loss to me, the Senate, and the entire nation. He will live on in our hearts.”

    Ekweremadu prayed God to grant eternal rest to the soul of the late Senator and support his family, people of Bauchi, and the nation with the fortitude to bear the loss.

    Late Wakil, 58, representing Bauchi South District under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), who was the chairman, Senate committee on Poverty Alleviation, died on Saturday.

    The deceased, a retired Comptroller, Nigeria Customs Service, defeated the former Governor of the state, Malam Isa Yuguda during the 2015 elections, to become the senator representing Bauchi South.

    He attended Lere Primary School in Tafawa Local Government Area of Bauchi State from 1965 to 1972, proceeded to Government Secondary, School Damaturu in the then Borno, from 1972 to 1977,where he obtained his Senior School Certificate.

    From 1977 to 1979, he attended Bauchi College of Arts and Science and subsequently proceeded to Bayero University, Kano for his Degree course, graduating in 1982.

    He also attended the Nigerian Custom Training School, Lagos in 1984 and thereafter rose to the position of Comptroller of Customs in 1996 and retired in 2009.

    The late lawmaker, a member of the National Institute, left behind two wives, 10 children and other relations.

    He has since been buried a Gudu District Cemetery in Abuja around 2:00 p.m. after Islamic rites were performed on his remains at the National Mosque.

     

     

  • Saraki Mourns ex-Adamawa Gov. Michika

    President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has expressed sadness over the death of the first civilian Governor of Adamawa State, Alhaji Abubakar Saleh Michika.

    Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, described the late Governor as a hardworking and patriotic Nigerian who served his country both in the public and private sectors with merit during his lifetime.

    “Alhaji Michika’s contribution to democratic governance and national development remains legendary. He will be sorely missed,” Saraki said.

    He commiserated with the immediate family of the deceased, the people and Government of Adamawa state over the irreparable loss.

    Saraki also prayed God to count the soul of the departed among the righteous ones in Aljannah Firdaus and grant his loved ones the fortitude to bear the loss.

  • Gov Ishaku, Taraba Speaker, others mourn Suntai

    Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr Abel Diah, have described the death of a former governor of the state, Danbaba Suntai, as a huge loss to the state and the entire Nigeria.

    Ishaku said in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Nelson Len, that Suntai was a treasure.

    The statement was issued on Thursday in Jalingo.

    The governor said that Suntai would be remembered for his contributions to the development of Taraba.

    He prayed God to comfort the deceased’s family and the entire Taraba people.

    Similarly, in a statement he signed, the speaker described Suntai as a pillar of Taraba.

    He said that the former governor died when his services were much needed.

    He prayed God to give Taraba people the strength to bear the loss.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Suntai died on Wednesday in Florida, U.S., where he was undergoing rehabilitation from brain injuries he sustained from a plane crash in October 2012 in Yola. He was aged 55 years.

     

  • Tinubu, Ajimobi others mourn Adeleke

    Former Lagos State Gov. Bola Tinubu, has described late Sen. Isiaka Adeleke, as a grassroots politician with rich political background.
    The All Progressives Congress (APC), National Leader in a condolence message issued on Sunday in Lagos, said that the leadership and good counsel of Adeleke were still very much required when death came.

    Adeleke, 62, also a former governor of Osun, died in the early hours of Sunday at a private hospital in Osogbo.

    ”I received the news of Senator Isiaka Adeleke’s death with shock.

    ” It was too much to bear coming barely a day after that of Dipo Famakinwa. The news of his death was both sudden and saddening for me and I am sure for most members of our political family.

    ”Sen. Adeleke was a grassroots politician with a rich political back ground. He was hugely popular in his Osun , particularly in the three local governments in Ede, his hometown.

    ”He was a major leader of our party, the APC. His leadership and good counsel were still very much required when death came.

    ”The late senator and I shared mutual respect and affection. My path and his first crossed during the aborted Third Republic, in the 1992/93 era, when we both belonged to the defunct Social Democratic Party.

    He was in the Peoples Democratic Party at the rebirth of democratic dispensation in 1999, but he later joined us in the APC in the build-up to the 2015 election, ” he said.

    According to Tinubu, he left behind a legacy in the area of education by establishing Ire Polytechnic and College of Education, Esa-Oke, among other laudable things during his time.

    ”Adeleke was with us in Lagos during the colloquium marking my 65th birthday. He also joined us for the inauguration of Aboru-Abesan Link Bridge and adjoining roads constructed by Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode.

    ”I commiserate with his wife and children. I commiserate with the entire Adeleke family and his friends and numerous supporters.

    Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State described Adeleke’s death as shocking, disheartening and sad.

    In a statement issued on Sunday in Ibadan by his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr Yomi Layinka, the governor said he received the news of Adeleke’s sudden death with shock and disbelief.

    Adeleke died in the early hours of Sunday at a private hospital in Osogbo after succumbing to a protracted ailment.

    The governor described the late senator as a celebrated and committed politician, distinguished senator, grassroots mobiliser, socialite and great philanthropist.

    Ajimobi said: “When the news filtered in that Sen. Adeleke was dead, l was extremely shocked and amazed.

    “ I found it very difficult to believe, because he was bubbling with life when l saw him last.

    Similarly, Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Sen. Lanre Tejuoso, said said the deceased contributed immensely to the growth of the National Assembly.

    “It is shocking. He was the Chairman, Senate Committee on Capital Market and he was active in ensuring that there was no problem in the Capital Market.

    “He organised a summit recently on the Capital Market and it was a success. He was an achiever; we are going to miss him greatly,’’ he said.

    The lawmaker prayed God to grant the deceased eternal rest, and the family the fortitude to bear the loss.

  • Ambode mourns former Minister, Olubi

    Ambode mourns former Minister, Olubi

     

    …Says Nigeria has lost a woman of substance

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Sunday expressed shock and sadness over the death of foremost accountant and a former Minister of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Bola Kuforiji-Olubi.

    Dr. Olubi, who was a former President of Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN), was appointed the first female Chairman of United Bank of Africa (UBA) in 1984, passed on at the age of 80 on Saturday.

    Governor Ambode in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, described Dr. Olubi as a distinguished businesswoman, banker, economist and accountant, who cut her teeth in the corporate world.

    The Governor recalled the former minister’s decades of distinguished career in the private and public sectors of national life, saying she was a role model to the future generation.

    “Dr. Olubi was a woman of many firsts; she wrote her name in gold in the banking industry and was a pace-setter and leader in banking, manufacturing and entrepreneurship not only in Nigeria but also in Sub-Saharan Africa.

    “It was not surprising that she was a proud and well-deserved recipient of National honours, fellowships, awards and honorary degrees from within and outside the country,’’ Governor Ambode said.

    The Governor said Dr. Olubi’s legacies would continue to be a source of inspiration to the younger generation.

    Governor Ambode also prayed for the peaceful repose of her soul, urging her family to draw strength from the legacies she stood for while she was alive and the fact that she was a devout Christian.

    “On behalf of my family and the people of Lagos state, I want to express our heartfelt condolence to the family of Dr. Olubi, on this great and irreparable loss.

    “I had always admired her demeanor. She was a woman of true character, substance and quiet nobility. We will sorely miss her”, he said.