The National Consultative Front, NCFront, has promised to investigate the sudden death just at it expressed shock and sadness over the passing of one its associates and founding member, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria,(CBN) Dr Obadiah Mailafia.
Mailafia, who passed on at another government hospital, not the National Hospital as widely reported, was former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC in the 2019 general elections in Nigeria.
Efforts to confirm his death at the National Hospital proved abortive as there was no evidence of his stay or passing there. There were speculations that he passed at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada.
It is not exactly clear why the NCF says it will investigate his sudden death, but there were reports that he may have been ill for some days.
One of such indications came from a reporter with The Punch newspapers, Mr. Eniola Akinkuotu, who posted thus on his Facebook wal: “Never knew this would be our last interview when we discussed the CBN’s decision in August to stop selling Forex to bureau de change operators. As always, you accurately stated that it would lead to the fall of the naira. I called you on Friday to book another interview but you didn’t sound like your usual jovial self. You didn’t greet me in the faulty Yoruba accent you usually used in greeting me so i knew something was off. You said you were not feeling well and I said OK let’s have the interview next week and even sent a text message wishing you well. Only to hear of your passing this morning. This is too sad at just 64? Rest in peace sir. Dr Obadiah Mailafia, former Deputy CBN governor, you will be missed.”
However, recall that Mailafia once had a running battle with the Department of State Services after he said that a governor from the North was a Boko Haram member. He was forced to recant, and also left his position as a directing staff of the prestigious National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru, near Jos, the Plateau State capital.
In a statement by Ms Rukaiya Muhammad, the NCF wrote:”Mailafia until his unbelievable demise today was a member of the National Steering Council and the North Central Facilitator of the NCFront, who raised the bar of commitment to the tasks of the movement, constantly advocating a fair, just and equitable governance of Nigeria, therefore becoming a Frontline member of the National Constitutional Dialogue Committee initiated by the movement to stem the heightening constitutional crisis and political agitations and insecurity traceable to the inherent flaws and pit falls of the Nigerian Constitution foisted on the country by the Nigerian military at the outset of current troubled democracy in 1999.
“In demonstration of his huge commitment to the movement, Obadiah Mailafia last week gave a positive feedback to the National Secretariat of the NCFront on a tactical task given to him by the movement towards ensuring cohesion and stability in the North Central and Middle Belt region ahead of the people’s constitutional dialogue in the region, showing no sign of illness.
“Memories of his various endeavors and contributions will be remembered and honoured by the NCFront during the 2nd National Rescue Summit being planned by the NCFront to commemorate Nigeria’s 61st Independence Anniversary on 1st October, 2021
“The movement however wishes to condole and commiserate with the family of its departed Leader, Obadiah Mailafia, praying for the repose of his soul and fortitude and strength for members of his family and promising investigation into his sudden death.”
