Vice President Namadi Sambo said yesterday that the former military governor of old Kaduna State, late Group Captain Usman Jibrin (rtd), was a statesman that would not be forgotten in a hurry.
He said this when he led federal government’s delegation on a condolence visit to Kaduna to see the family of the late elder statesman .
The Vice President observed that the late Jibrin was a statesman of great repute, a humble and patriotic Nigerian and a great philanthropist, dedicated to the unity and peaceful co-existence of Nigeria.
The Vice President at the visit pledged that, “we will all make our contributions to see that we support the destitute, the policies he has been promoting and all other citizens in this country. The contributions he has made towards ensuring unity and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians, we would continue to support that and be our brothers’ keepers. Nigeria had lost a great man and Nigerians should emulate him.
“The late Governor Group Captain Usman Jibrin was an honest and patriotic person; Nigerians would continue to remember him for that. Nigeria has lost a gem.May Almighty Allah grant him Aljannah Firdaus and the family the fortitude to bear the loss”,”the Vice President said.
Alhaji Umar Ghali Na’Abba who also spoke said that “Our country has lost a great patriot who left behind a great vacuum which would be difficult to refill. We will continue to pray for the soul of the deceased and the younger generation the courage to emulate his qualities.”
In a related development, the Vice President condoled with Alhaji Umaru Baba, former Minister of Petroleum Resources, on the death of his younger brother, Aliyu Baba.
Present at the ocassion were Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa; Minister of Defence, Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed; Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc Musa Sada; Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Gali Umar Na’Abba.