By Francis Nansak,Lafia
Could it have been a political rally? A festival? Or the usual gathering to receive palliatives? No! As sadden hearts , glumy faces express, a consummated personality and erudite political leader in the person of distinguished Senator Abubakar Danso Sodangi has taken a bow to the glorious call of nature.
The third republic senator died from complicated illness of less than Ten days He felt ill and was rush to the hospital for immediate medical care, but because it was destined, he gave up the ghost on Sunday night and has since been buried according to Islamic rites at his home town of Nasarawa LGA, Nasarawa State.
His cold dead body arrived the Nasarawa Emir Palace exactly 1 58 pm on Monday and was received by the executive governor of Nasarawa State , Engineer Abdullahi Sule , the Emir of Nasarawa , Alhaji Dr , Ibrahim Usman Jibrin who were flanked by hundreds of traditional rulers, political appointees of the Nasarawa State Government, present and former legislators , including the past and serving ministers.
In his condolence message , Governor Abdullahi Sule did not hold his broken heart over the demise of his former campaign Chairman for the 2023 second time struggle.
” My heart is burdened and I am deeply saddened by the news of the passage of my brother and Chairman of my Campaign Council before the primaries in 2019 and during the 2023 gubernatorial election, Senator Abubakar Danso Sodangi, Dan Malikin Nasarawa who passed away on Sunday night only hours after I was in the hospital to see him.
“Senator Sodangi was not just an elder brother and political associate but a confidant, a lover of peace and harmony among his people and community.
“Senator Sodangi was a committed leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who at all times
placed the interest of the party above his personal interests.
” His legislative prowess as representative of the people of Nasarawa West senatorial district for twelve years was evident. No doubt, Nasarawa State has lost one of her political icons and an elderstatesman.We shall miss his timely advice and love for Nasarawa State and humanity in general.
Meanwhile the Speaker Nasarawa State House of assembly , Rt Honourable Danladi jatau , described the late senator as a man who is a practical politician, a leader whose words counts and a mentor.
Regretting the demised of the national legislator, Danladi said he was his campaign Director, during his quest to represent Nasarawa West. ” I have lost someone who is very dear to me , late senator sodangi can be best said to be a national leader and his absence will be greatly missed” The Speaker said.
And on their parts, speaking at separate interview the former minister for environment , Barrister Mohammed Hassan Abdullahi, and current minister for state , Police Affair, Hajia Imaan Ibrahim, both described the late elder Stateman and ranking senator Sodangi as a rear gem, whose shoes can hardly be worn by anybody, due to his antecedent while he represented Nasarawa western senatorial zone for twelve years in 1999 to 2011.
On his part the outgoing vice chancellor of Nasarawa State University , Professor Suleiman Bala Mohammed said a huge vacuum has been created, but with time can be replaced because the late senator was a mentor, a political guru and a consummate lawyer who did not just reign in flagrant, flamboyant leadership life style but was instrumental to so many employments of nasarawa state citizens at various federal institutions.
Also speaking were his forth son, Shamsudeen Abubakar Sodangi, his primary and secondary school classmate Alhaji Ibrahim and his legislative aide , the Majindadi Danmalakin Nasarawa .
Shamsudeen Sodangi , described his late father as a true disciplinarian, a leader whose demised has brought a set back into the family, but however assured that his principles and the legacies he left behind will be sustained , calling on Nasarawa people to see the death of his late father as an act of God .
Speaking on behalf of the family, he confirmed that his late father took ill and while he was rushed to the hospital what was seen as his usual illness or showings of old age, turned out to be a terminal sickness only awaiting Allah’s interventions ” Because we noticed in him that what he was struggling with would have no human solution.
” My father took I’ll for only Eight (8) days and died on Sunday night. We are Eleven children he was survived with among two of our mothers. We greatly regret his death , but my solace and consolation is in the fact that my father lived a generous , selfless life, and as a dedicated Muslim, he was a practical Muslim, which i belief he will rest in peace in Aljanna ” Shamsudeen averred.
New National Star reports that the late Barrister Senator Danso Abubakar Sodangi was elected into the Nigerian senate chamber in 1999 to 2011 after 12 years of meritorious service to the country, he was chairman to broker peace in negotiating for the return of peace when President Goodluck Jonathan appointed him to mediate on how the Boko Haram insurgency can be quelled .
The late former senator was also a board chairman, chairman of Engr. AA Sule Campaign Council 2023.He died at the age of 70 and has been buried according to Muslim rites at Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.