Ibrahim Mantu, a former deputy president, is dead.
A family source, who confirmed the demise to our correspondent, said he died at a private hospital in Abuja after nine days of sickness and isolation.
He said the former deputy senate president died at about 2am on Tuesday.
“He fell ill about nine days ago and was receiving treatment at home but he was rushed to the hospital when there was no sign of improvement,” the source said adding that the funeral prayer would hold later on Tuesday, in Abuja.
Mantu was one of the notable figures in the nation’s political landscape for many years.
In 2001 he was elected Deputy Senate President under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), a position he held till 2007 when he did not return to the senate.
Mantu, who hails from Gindiri District in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, worked in various establishments before joining politics.
Meanwhile, Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has expressed shock over the death of Mantu (Wazirin Pyem), describing it as a great loss to Plateau State and Nigeria at large.
Governor Lalong said he received the news of the demise of the elder statesman and erudite politician with a heavy heart, recalling his enormous contributions to the socio-political development of the State and the nation at large.
According to the Governor, “Late Senator Nasiru Mantu was a grassroots politician whose life was all about the interest of the people as he did everything within his power to serve them through empowerment and quality representation. He earned his place in Nigerian politics by active involment and also had a great connection with the youth whom he mentored not only in politics, but in other fields, especially service to humanity”.
Lalong said the State will miss the voice of peace and unity as well as an advocate of social cohesion and tolerance which the late Deputy Senate represented particularly during the trying moments of its history. Until his death, he continued to avail the Government his wealth of experience and knowledge in running the affairs of the people.
The Governor said the State remains grateful for his political representation as two-term Senator representing Plateau Central Zone where he emerged Deputy Senate President and did a lot to project and protect the interests of Plateau State at the red chambers. This attracted many projects and programmes of the Federal Government to the State and also ensured that Plateau citizens were represented at various levels of the federal administration.
Lalong condoled with the widow of the deceased, his children, people of Pyem Chiefdom and the entire State over the death of the late political leader whose contributions to the growth of
democracy in Nigeria remain indelible. He also prayed God to forgive his sins and grant his soul eternal rest.
▪︎ Additional report by Daily Trust