By Gabriel Atumeyi
365Daily – Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, Senate President, Ahmed Lawan have respectively expressed sorrow over the passing of former deputy senate president, Ibrahim Mantu.
365Daily had earlier reported that the former deputy senate president died at the wee hours of Tuesday of an undisclosed illness.
Obasanjo in a condolence letter addressed to Mantu’s son, Musa, on behalf of the family on Tuesday, said that the late Deputy Senate President served Nigeria meritoriously and accorded his administration reform agenda between 1999 and 2007.
Obasanjo said he valued his unequivocal support to his government.
The former President in the letter issued to newsmen by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, also recalled Mantu’s role to terminate the move to change the government in Sao Tome and Principe in 2003.
The statement read, “He used his God-given position to properly ground the democratic process and engender the stability, peace, growth and development of our fatherland, Nigeria, at the time. He operated and conducted himself with courage, conviction, consistency and the fear of God.
“It is also on record that Senator Mantu was part of my delegation that championed the termination of the unpalatable and criminal adventure of some over-ambitious elements in Sao Tome and Principe on July 16, 2003, with all efforts deployed to restore the country to democratic governance based on the principles of accountability, transparency, respect for human rights and the rule of law. His was a life of great purpose, true service, and solid accomplishments.”
The former President emphasised that “no doubt, your late father will be sorely missed by those who knew him, particularly his colleagues in the Senate and surely by his State and his friends.
“Thus, as you mourn his demise, I would urge that you take consolation in knowing that he lived a fulfilled life and left behind a good name that you should all be proud of.”
On his part the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan in a Facebook post said Mantu had a brilliant political career which he capped with the quality representation he provided the people of Plateau Central District as their two-term Senator between 1999 and 2007.
“I commiserate with the friends and political associates of the former Senator, as well as the government and entire people of Plateau State over the huge loss.
“As Deputy Senate President, Mantu played the role with great energy and finesse, which earned him the respect and admiration of his colleague Distinguished Senators.
“The former Deputy Senate President lived a life of service to his people and to the entire nation. He left his imprints at the Senate, having served creditably well in his days at the Upper Chamber.
“I pray for Allah to rest Mantu’s soul in eternal bliss and to comfort the many people who are saddened by his death.