Baba Jibril: Saraki, Dogara, Bello, Rep mourn

The member representing Lokoja/Kogi Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Umar Baba Jibril, is dead.
Fifty-eight-year-old Jibril, a three-time member of the House, died in the early hours of Friday in Abuja, one of his political associates, Mr Amuda Dan Sulaiman, confirmed.
He was until his death, the Deputy Majority Leader of the house.
He was also a former Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly.
The House of Representatives also announced the death.
In a statement by the Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara, the House described Jibrin as “an upright man, a leader per excellence, a patriotic, committed hardworking lawmaker and a worthy representative”.
“We regret to announce the passing away of our friend, brother, colleague and leader, Umar Buba Jibrin, Deputy Leader of the House of Representatives, whose sad demise occurred in the early hours of Friday, after a protracted illness.”
According to the statement, Jibrin will be buried on Friday in Lokoja after the Juma’at prayer.
The House extended its heart felt condolences to his immediate family, wives, children, relations, constituents and people of Kogi.
Jibrin was a one time Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly and until his death, he was the Deputy Leader of the House of Representatives.
The House prays that his gentle soul rests in peace.
Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, expressed sadness over the passing of Jibrin.
In posts on his social media pages, Saraki said that Nigeria had lost another seasoned legislator and champion of the common man.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the family and constituents of the late Rt. Hon Umar Jibrin, deputy leader of the House of Representatives, who passed away early this morning.
“As a former Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Jibrin, was a seasoned legislator and a conscientious lawmaker who always put the interests of the common man first and championed them at the federal level.
“He will be greatly missed.
“My deep condolences go out to Speaker Dogara, his colleagues in the House of Representives and the government and people of Kogi State over this great loss,” Saraki said.
Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State expressed “deep shock” over the demise.
Bello described Jibril as a man who “lived in the hearts of his people”, saying the vacuum he left in the state and the ruling party will be difficult to fill, according to a statement by Kingsley Fanwo, the Director-General of Media and Publicity.
“The late former Kogi State House of Assembly Speaker and a Principal Officer of the House of Representatives was a man of the people. His life is a book for anyone aspiring for greatness to read.
“The late Jibril identified with his people and lived a life of serving the poor in his constituency.
“He was a successful politician and a lesson in positivism; a man who chose to take his destiny in his hand on several occasions.
“He will be remembered for his astuteness and purposeful leadership as well as his philanthropic life and service to humanity.
“The New generation of Kogites and Nigerians at large will have a lot to learn from the life of the great patriot”.
The governor assured the people of Kogi that the “departed hero and indomitable grassroots commander” would be immortalised to keep the memories of his great contributions to the development of Kogi and Nigeria as a whole.
A member of the House of Representatives, Yusuf Tajudeen (APC-Kogi), described the death as a big loss.
The lawmaker, who represents Ijumu/Kabba-Bunu Federal Constituency, said the news of Jibril’s death came to him as a shock.
He said that late Jibril would be missed by all as he was a patriotic and hardworking representative of Kogi.
Tajudeen who was speaking while on his way to the burial, said, “his death is still shocking to us, now we are going for his burial”.
“I just want to remind us all that we do not own this life,” he said.