…As President Buhari mourns
A former Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Lawal Kaita died on Tuesday at 85 after protracted illness.
Findings confirmed that Kaita passed away at Nizamieye Turkish Hospital in Abuja following age-related disease.
It was learnt that he died in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital.
The Janaza (burial rites for the deceased) will hold at the place of the Emir of Katsina by 2pm today.
A statement by the Governor of Katsina State, Rt. Hon. Amin Bello Masari confirmed the demise of Kaita.
Governor Masari, in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media, Abdu Labaran Malumfashi, expressed sadness over the death of former Governor if the defunct Kaduna State, Alhaji Lawal Kaita, saying Nigeria has lost a patriotic son who had contributed immensely to the development of contemporary politics in Nigeria.
He described the deceased as one of the most accommodating, generous and refined politicians the nation has produced, adding that politics will never be the same without the jocular banter of the deceased .
The statement said: ” Katsina state, and indeed the nation at large, will miss the wise cauncel of Alhaji Lawal Kaita.
“For Alhaji Lawal Kaita, politics was never a do or die affair, but a vehicle for service to the people.
“On behalf of the good people of Katsina state, I condole President Muhammadu Buhari, the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumin Kabir Usman and the immediate family of of the deceased.
“May Allah forgive all his shortcomings and grant him eternal rest, and grant his family the fortitude to bear the loss”.
Born in 1932 in Katsina, Lawal Kaita was elected governor of Kaduna State on the platform of the defunct National Party of Nigeria, NPN.
He was in office from October to December 1983 when the military ousted the civilian administration of ex- President Shehu Shagari.
His profile by a source confirmed that he was a member of the Constituent Assembly of Nigeria (1977–1978), and later became Special Assistant to President Shehu Shari after losing his first gubernatorial attempt to Peoples Redemption Party, PRP candidate, Balarabe Musa, in 1979.
The late Kaita was a leading member of late Shehu Yar’adua’s political movement, and foundation member of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
President Mijammadu Buhari has extended his deepest condolences to the family, the Government and people of Katsina and Kaduna states on the sad demise of Alhaji Lawal Kaita, a former governor of the old Kaduna state.
Buhari described the former Governor and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a complete gentleman who served his people and the nation with total commitment and devotion.
In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, the President said “Nigeria has lost a distinguished leader. We are all saddened by his demise. May his soul Rest In Peace,”
