Niger Assembly member, Joseph Haruna Duza, laid to rest

Dignitaries from both within and outside Niger State gathered at the Air Force protestant Church, 013 response base, in Minna the state capital on Wednesday to pay their last respect to late Navy Commander, Joseph Haruna Duza, the erstwhile member representing Munya constituency in the State House of Assembly.

The late retired Nigerian Air Force officer who was until his death last weekend was the chairman standing committee on security and intelligent in the State House of Assembly, died last week Thursday at a private hospital in Minna during a brief illness at the age of 61.

The Niger State Deputy Governor, Comrade Yakubu Garba led members of the State Executive Council which included Commissioners, Special Advisers, Directors General, Senior Special assistants and political parties executives as well as other top political functionaries .

The State Assembly was led by the speaker, Hon Abdulmalik Sarkindaji in conjunction with all the members in attendance at the solemn funeral service for the deceased former Nigerian Air Force Officer- cum politician.

Also, some former assembly members were not left out as they all came to pay their last respect to the late member whom the Speaker described as a true Nigerian who was passionate about the well-being of his constituency in particular, and the state in general.

“We will miss late Honorable Joseph Haruna Duza who offered himself to the service of the people of his constituency and the state in general.

“He will be remembered for his robust and unbiased contributions to state matters on the floor of the house during plenary. We will forever missed him,” the speaker declared .

The Deputy Governor, Garba extolled the virtues of the late member, saying that despite his political differences as a member of the People’s Democratic party (PDP) in the house, he remained committed and supportive to the renewed hope agenda of the present administration in the state.

He pointed out that the late member had demonstrated that he was a true representative of the people with his commitment towards the peace and security of his constituency that has been bedevilled with bandits activities.

“I want to say that the late lawmaker will be missed not only by his immediate family members and his constituency but the entire people of the state. His short stay in the House was remarkable in the lives of his constituency.

“He used his military background and experience to offer help in the area of insecurity to his people and the state in general. His immense contributions to the peace and development of his constituency will surely be missed,” he added.

In his homily from the Holy scriptures at the funeral service, the officiating priest, Rev. Joseph C. Yakubu reminded politicians that sacrifice for humanity Should be their watch-ward, adding that we will all die empty no matter the accumulation of wealth.

“No matter how long you lived, the end will surely come because there is time to be born and the time to die. The question is that how do we live our lives here on earth because there is purpose for every human existence,” he said.

He, however, appealed to politicians and other Nigerians that they can only be remembered for the positive legacy they left behind and therefore impart positively on the lives of the people, stressing, that “only your legacy on earth that will speak for you when you are gone.”

The body of the late Commander Joseph Haruna was later taken to his hometown, Chibani in Munya local government where his remains were laid to rest according to military tradition amidst tight security.

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