…prays for his quick recovery.
By Amuda Dan Sulaiman FAB.
The political associates of the former deputy majority leader, House of Representatives, late Umar Buba Jibril, on Tuesday, commended the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, for his genuine show of sympathy and his presence to personally receive guests since the death was announced and even when the body arrived Lokoja from Abuja.
Spokesperson of the group, Mallam Tanko Lawal, gave the commendation at a well attended All Progressives Congress (APC), Lokoja local government stakeholders meeting, held at Idrinana Hotel in Lokoja.
According to Lawal, the seed of politics without bitterness sown by the former lawmaker has yielded fruit in the political lifestyle of the sitting governor.
Lawal who is also the APC state organizing secretary praised the state governor for according a “befitting” state burial to the former federal lawmaker.
“We are very grateful to the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, for his magnanimity, sympathy and for a well and solemn burial ceremony for our leader and political mentor, Umar Buba Jibril, who passed on, on Thursday, March 29.
“Despite the state poor resources, the governor and the Kogi State Government provided the needed logistics and above all, stood by the family and ensured a befitting burial for our political icon, our symbol of political unity and apostle of politics without bitterness.
“We were highly impressed by the governor’s genuine show of sympathy and his presence to personally receive guests since the death was announced and even when the body arrived Lokoja. We acknowledge the respect he accorded our leader in his life time and even at his demise.”
Buba’s associates expressed appreciation to the governor for his role before their leader travelled overseas for medical treatment.
“On behalf of all the political associates of late Umar Buba Jibril, we wish to express our heartfelt appreciation.
“What we are witnessing in Governor Yahaya Bello is the emergence of the fruit of the seed of politics without bitterness (that) the late Umar Buba Jibril sowed, nurtured, preached, practised and lived for,” the spokesperson added.
The group equally appreciated members of both Federal and States executive councils, members of the National Assembly, Speaker and members of the State House of Assembly, the State Chief Judge and members of the Judiciary in the state, National and State leaders of the APC, all Imams, Bishops, Pastors and other anointed men of God, traditional rulers, members of the Diplomatic Corps and all other important personalities and groups too numerous to be listed.
“Similarly, we appreciated the massive turnout of the good people of Kogi State to honor our political departed leader friend and brother and also thanked those that lined up along the routes, beginning from Abuja to the residence of the late former lawmaker, all towns, and villages through which the convoy accompanying the corpse to his country home and final resting home,” the group stressed.
The group commended security agencies in the State for their dedication, commitment and the extra vigilance they displayed throughout the two ceremonies, the Press, for good and effective publicity during the events and the Central Planning Committee for a job well done.
Responding, the Senior Special Adviser to Governor Yahaya Bello on Multilateral and Donor Agency, Hon. Adoga Ibrahim, who presided over the stakeholders meeting tasked Kogites especially politicians to adopt the politics without bitterness posture of Hon. Buba.
Describing Buba as “a humble great leader,” of the people of Lokoja LGA, Ibrahim said he expected Kogites to tap from the fountain of his wealth of experience, which impacted positively on the state’s development.
The Special Adviser expressed optimism that God will fill the vacuum created by the exit of Buba by giving Lokoja people someone else to replace him as a model of democracy.
He urged all APC members in Lokoja local government area to be their brothers’ keeper and to shun vices that could jeopardize the government efforts towards enabling the citizens to realize their ambitions.
Meanwhile, the group prayed for the quick recovery of Governor Yahaya Bello who was involved in an accident recently.
APC leaders in the meeting include; Hon. Adoga Ibrahim, S A Multilateral and Donor Agency; Lokoja local government Administrator, Hon. Lawal Shiru; APC state assistant organizing secretary, Mallam Tanko Lawal; Alhaji Muhammed Attati Bozy; APC chairman, Lokoja LGA, Hon. Haruna Isah; APC Secretary, Mayaki Nagogo Abubakar and a host of others.
