The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase; and Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Aliyu Betara, have expressed sadness over the demise of a member-elect of the House, Ismaila Maihanci.
Maihanci reportedly died on Saturday after a brief illness, about two months after winning the election for the seat of Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency in Taraba State at the House, and less than two months to the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly.
Gbajabiamila, in a statement issued on Saturday by the Special Adviser to the Speaker on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, said he was shocked that Maihanci died at the young age of 37.
The statement was titled ‘Gbajabiamila Sad Over Death of Taraba House of Representatives Member-Elect, Maihanci.’
Describing the news of the demise of the member-elect as devastating and disheartening, the Speaker said from the little that he was told about the late Maihanci was that “the Taraba politician was one Nigerian who was ready to serve his people diligently.”
“The Speaker expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family of the late politician, the people and the government of Taraba State, especially his constituents at Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency. He prayed for the repose of the soul of Hon. Ismaila Yushau Maihanci and that God should give his family the fortitude to bear the loss,” the statement partly read.
Wase, in a separate statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Umar Puma, expressed grief over the passing on of Maihanchi, while extending his heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Taraba State over his death.
In the terse statement titled ‘Wase Mourns Taraba Member-Elect,’ the Deputy Speaker, “while praying that God will comfort his immediate family over the painful loss, he prayed that the Almighty Allah will grant him eternal rest.”
In the same vein, Betara commiserated with the people and Government of Taraba State over the loss of one of the member-elect.
The speakership aspirant, in a statement issued by his media campaign team, titled ‘Hon. Betara Mourns Taraba Member-Elect, Maihanchi,’ expressed grief over the ugly incident. The lawmaker described the late member-elect as a brother and friend.
Betara partly said, “It is with heavy heart that I received the news about the passing away of my brother and member-elect, Hon. Ismaila Yushau Maihanchi, this morning. I was with him shortly before I departed to Saudi Arabia for the Lesser Hajj.
“Hon Ismai’l Maihanshi, member-Elect from Taraba was one of the front soldiers of ‘One NATION, Forward-Together.’ The news of his death came as a huge shock to me, knowing full well the depth of his knowledge and vision for a prosperous Nigeria, which we collectively share.
“Hon. Ismai’l Maihanchi will sorely be missed by all of us. My condolences to the Government and people of Taraba State, as well as his immediate family. May Almighty Allah forgive his sins and grant the departed soul Jannatul-Firdaus. Amin.”
The member-elect, who contested the National Assembly election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, defeated his opponents from the All Progressives Congress, the New Nigerian Peoples Party, and the Social Democratic Party by a landslide.