Worrisome: two Senators, one Rep pass in a month

The National Assembly was Wednesday thrown into mourning following the death of a Senator, Mustapha Bukar. He represents Katsina North Senatorial District.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, expressed sadness and shock, at his demise, and particularly lamented that the passing on of Bukar is coming barely a week after the death of a member of the House of Representatives from Kogi State and Deputy House Leader, Hon. Umar Buba Jibrin and less than a month after the demise of a senator from Bauchi state, Sen. Ali Wakili.
President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, expressed deep sorrow over the death and in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, Saraki described the death of Senator Bukar as one too many coming a few weeks after the Red Chamber lost Senator Ali Wakili.

“I am saddened to learn about the passing of another friend and colleague, Senator  Mustapha Bukar. When I and some of my colleagues visited Senator Bukar in the hospital after Jummat prayers last Friday, we prayed with him and we were filled with hope that he would soon recuperate and resume his normal life and legislative activities.
“As a first-time lawmaker, Senator Bukar stood out for the quality of his contributions on the floor, his pragmatism and his work to strengthen the institution of the legislature. We shall sorely miss his vibrancy and progressive mindset.
“But now that he is no more, we cannot query Almighty Allah over the incident because He gives and takes as it pleases Him. The late Bukar was forthright and gentle in all his dealings.
“This is indeed another painful moment for the Senate, a sad moment for his immediate family, his constituents in Katsina North Senatorial District and the people and government of Katsina State.
“As we mourn his passing, my thoughts and prayers are with his family, President Muhammadu Buhari and the government and people of Katdina State. I pray that the Almighty Allah, in his infinite grace, grants the dear and departed Senator a place among the righteous ones in Aljannah firdaus,” Saraki stated.
The Speaker, in a statement by his spokesman, Turaki Hassan, described late Senator Bukar as a fine gentleman who exhibited high moral disposition and earned respect from his colleagues and associates while representing Daura Zone in the Senate.
“This is a great loss and painful one for that matter, especially coming at a time when we are still mourning the passing away of two of our colleagues, and distinguished lawmakers.
“Sen. Bukar was a respected lawmaker, a fine gentleman who carried himself with a lot of dignity and contributed immensely to the growth of the parliament and
democracy in general. He was a patriotic politician whose exploits in the Senate were eventful.”
On behalf of the entire membership of the House of Representatives, I wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to President Muhammadu Buhari, government and people of Katsina state, particularly the Daura Zone as well as the immediate family of the deceased over this irreparable loss.