Ismaila Maihanci, a member-elect of the House, passed away, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase, and the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Aliyu Betara, have all expressed their sorrow.
Approximately two months after winning the election for the Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency in Taraba State at the House and less than two months before the start of the 10th National Assembly, Maihanci reportedly passed away on Saturday following a brief illness.
In a statement released on Saturday by Lanre Lasisi, Special Adviser to the Speaker on Media and Publicity, Gbajabiamila expressed sadness that Maihanci passed away at such a young age of 37.
The statement was titled ‘Gbajabiamila Sad Over Death of Taraba House of Representatives Member-Elect, Maihanci.’
Describing the news of the demise of the member-elect as devastating and disheartening, the Speaker said from the little that he was told about the late Maihanci was that “the Taraba politician was one Nigerian who was ready to serve his people diligently.”
“The Speaker expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family of the late politician, the people and the government of Taraba State, especially his constituents at Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency. He prayed for the repose of the soul of Hon. Ismaila Yushau Maihanci and that God should give his family the fortitude to bear the loss,” the statement partly read.
Wase expressed his sorrow over Maihanchi’s departure in a separate statement released by his chief press secretary, Umar Puma, and offered his sincere condolences to the Taraba State government and people.
In the terse statement titled ‘Wase Mourns Taraba Member-Elect,’ the Deputy Speaker, “while praying that God will comfort his immediate family over the painful loss, he prayed that the Almighty Allah will grant him eternal rest.”
In a same spirit, Betara expressed sympathy to the residents and administration of Taraba State for the passing of a member-elect.
The speakership candidate lamented the uncivilised occurrence in a statement headed “Hon. Betara Mourns Taraba Member-Elect, Maihanchi” that was released by his media campaign staff. The late member-elect was referred to by the legislator as a brother and friend.
Betara partly said, “It is with heavy heart that I received the news about the passing away of my brother and member-elect, Hon. Ismaila Yushau Maihanchi, this morning. I was with him shortly before I departed to Saudi Arabia for the Lesser Hajj.
“Hon Ismai’l Maihanshi, member-Elect from Taraba was one of the front soldiers of ‘One NATION, Forward-Together.’ The news of his death came as a huge shock to me, knowing full well the depth of his knowledge and vision for a prosperous Nigeria, which we collectively share.
“Hon. Ismai’l Maihanchi will sorely be missed by all of us. My condolences to the Government and people of Taraba State, as well as his immediate family. May Almighty Allah forgive his sins and grant the departed soul Jannatul-Firdaus. Amin.”
The member-elect easily defeated his opponents from the All Progressives Congress, the New Nigerian Peoples Party, and the Social Democratic Party. He ran for the National Assembly on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.
