Saraki, Wada, Melaye, others bid Jubril farewell

SENATE President, Bukola Saraki, former Kogi state governor, Idris Wada, his deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, and the incumbent, Simon Achuba, and the senator representing Kogi west senatorial district, Dino Melaye, were among those that graced the eighth day fidau prayer of the former deputy majority leader of the House of Representatives, Buba Jibril.

However, a high point of the event was the entrance of the venue by Melaye along with Saraki, as the Kogi senator was greeted with a loud ovation.

Operatives of the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) drafted to the Kabawa Primary School, Lokoja, venue of the event could not do anything as the crowd continued shouting “Sai Dino”.

Many people at the event had thought that Melaye may be arrested at the programme following the alarm he raised early in the morning that security operatives had been drafted to arrest him at the fidau prayer.

The Nigerian Police has last week declared Melaye wanted over allegations that he was training and arming thugs to disrupt the peace of Kogi state ahead of the next general election.

As Melaye alighted from the vehicle that also conveyed the Senate president he raised his two fingers to acknowledge cheers from the crowd as ‘Sai Dino’ rented the air.

Some members of the Kabawa community also provided their own local security for the senator apart from that of the Senate president.

The delegation was said to have been received at the airstrip in Obajana by the representative of the state commissioner of police, who also had a handshake with everyone, including the senator that was declared wanted by the police.

Melaye left the venue in company with Saraki for Katsina state where they went to condole with the family of the senator that died.

Speaking at the event, Wada described Jubril’s death as a major loss to Kogi politics, saying his death was a lesson to politicians.

He said, “Buba was a very nice man very vibrant politician he has the interest of the people at heart. We will all miss him greatly. We pray that his soul rests in peace. The death should teach politicians that there is an end to everything in life that is why we should not push things beyond the limit.

“We will all miss Buba, he was a great man and he has contributed positively to the upliftment and the politics of Kogi State. His politics and style make him a man of the people, he listens to people and he does something about their complaints.

“He was just a good man. He had a network across the country, a non-tribalistic Nigerian with very good qualities and he was not a religious bigot, politicians should emulate him”.

Also speaking, the majority leader of the house of representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, said he was saddened by Jubril’s death.

He said, “He was a personal friend, a leader and a colleague, we learnt a lot from each other, we are going to miss him. I am trying to absorb the shock in my system you can see the amazing crowd at the prayer that is a testament to the kind of person he was.”

Gbajabiamila urged politicians to continue to work hard with commitment and live every day as the last day on earth.