By Abba-Eku Onyekachi
Abuja
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio and his deputy, Sen. Barau I Jibrin have mourned the death of Hajiya Halima (Baba) Ibrahim, the mother of the immediate past President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan.
The former senate president’s mother, Hajiya Halima died on Saturday at her residence in Gashua town, Bade local government area of Yobe state at the age of 86.
In a condolence letter to Senator Lawan, Akpabio expressed gratitude for the sacrifices and maternal tenacity provided by Hajiya Halima, which helped him in attaining his laurels in academia and Nigeria’s political space, just as he added that Nigeria at the present, needed more mothers like her, who looked beyond the present towards directing their children unto lasting legacies.
“I can only imagine her satisfaction as you progressed in life knowing that the sacrifices were worth it. My brother, I mourn with you and join all your well wishers to pray for the repose of her soul in Aljannah Firdaus,” Akpabio wrote.
The Deputy President of the Senate in a condolence message signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, also commiserated with other members of the family over the loss.
While praying Allah SWT to grant Hajiya Halima Aljannah Firdaus, he urged the former Lawan and all those she left behind to take solace in the fact that she lived a righteous life dedicated to the service of Allah and humanity.
“Hajiya was a devout Muslim who dedicated her life to the service of Allah and humanity. May Allah SWT grant Hajiya Aljannah Firdaus and give the President of the 9th Senate, Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan and all those she left behind the strength to bear her passage, ” he said.
According to the Media Adviser to Senator Lawan, the has on Sunday, laid his mother to rest in Gashua, Bade local government area of Yobe State.
A burial ceremony was held for the deceased before her internment at the Gashua Central Cemetery.
The Islamic burial rites were performed by the Imam of the Gashua Central Mosque, Imam Ahmad Talba. Constituents in their thousands from Senator Lawan’s senatorial district, and sympathizers from beyond thronged the venue of the funeral ceremony which commenced at 11a.m on Sunday. Among dignitaries present were the Governor of Borno state, Babagana Zulum, the Deputy Governor of Yobe state, Idi Barde Gubana, and Speaker of the Yobe state House of Assembly, Hon. Chiroma Mashio.
Others were Emirs and traditional leaders, Senator Babangida Hussaini (APC – Jigawa North West), Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan (APC – Borno Central), Hon. Usman Zannah representing Kaga/Gubio/Magumeri Federal Constituency, and serving Commissioners with the Yobe State Government.
