President Muhammadu Buhari has again expressed sorry at the demise of former Women Affairs Minister, Hajia Aisha Jummai Alhassan aka Mama Taraba, noting that her death left a huge void in Nigerian politics.
According to a Tuesday statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, President Buhari said he joined the people of Taraba State, where the ex-minister hailed from, in their moment of grief as they mourn her.
The statement noted that President Buhari sent a delegation led by Engineer Abubakar Aliyu, Minister of State, Works and Housing to condole with her bereaved father, Alh Abubakar Ibrahim OON, Sarkin Ayyukan Muri, the Emir of Muri, Alhaji Abbas Tafida and the Taraba State Governor, Architect Darius Ishaku.
The president was quoted as saying that the nation has lost a woman leader.
“We lost a great leader with an indomitable spirit with people, especially the womenfolk at her heart. The late Aisha Alhassan was strong, bold and people-oriented,” the President was quoted to have said.
He also prayed to Allah to repose her soul.
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“A brother of the deceased and former Senator, Abdulaziz Ibrahim who spoke on behalf of the family thanked the President for making their sister a minister and assured that they w continue to be with him.
“The Emir on his part described death as inevitable. He prayed for the deceased and thanked the President for his support to the people of the state. He urged him to remain calm and steadfast and act decisively to deal with the enemies of the state who he blamed for the security challenges facing the nation,” the statement read in part.
It further quoted Governor Ishaku as describing the late minister as one of the closest persons to him: “Once she is committed to something, she remains consistent. She was a great mobilizer. She served well as minister and did not speak lies.”
The Governor was said to have expressed the appreciation of his administration to the President for the confidence he has in him.
“We appreciate Mr. President. He cares about us,” the governor was quoted to have said while expressing his happiness that he did not disappoint the President by bringing back peace to the Mambilla plateau.
“Mambilla is peaceful today,” he said, expressing hope that the solidarity and friendship between the state and the centre will continue.
The statement disclosed that other members of the delegation were Barrister Mohammed Hassan Abdullahi, Minister of State, Science and Technology and the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.