Borno State deputy governor, Alhaji Zannah Umar Mustapha, is dead.
Zannah was said to have died in his sleep, yesterday morning, at one of the lodges in Yola, Adamawa State capital.
Sources said the deputy governor flew from Maiduguri, Borno State capital, to Abuja, on Friday, where he boarded a flight to Yola to attend the convocation ceremony of Modibbo Adama University of Technology (MAUTEC), Yola where the Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) degree was conferred on a former Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Ali Chiroma, yesterday.
One of the sources told Sunday Vanguard that Mustapha performed his morning prayers (Asba) at a mosque, went back to sleep only to be found dead.
Reports revealed that he may have died of heart attack.
“ The deputy governor had been suffering from high blood pressure (BP) for a long time, and had been managing the situation before he finally give up”, an associate said.
His remains were scheduled to be conveyed to Maiduguri, yesterday, for burial according to Islamic rites.
A press statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Usman Jidda Shuwa, yesterday, confirmed the death.
“It is with deep sense of utter shock and disbelief but with complete submission to the will of the Almighty Allah that the Borno State Government hereby announces the passing awy of His Excellency, Alhaji Zannah Umar Mustapha, the Deputy Governor of Borno State”, the statement said.
“He died in his sleep this morning in Yola, Adamawa State where he was to represent Borno State Government at the convocation ceremony of Modibbo Adama University of Science and Technology, Yola.
“He was also scheduled to follow up on his earlier visit to Yola, in connection with the welfare of Borno State citizens internally displaced as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency.
“His is remains would be brought to Maiduguri for funeral at the Government House, Maiduguri at 4pm today, Saturday, 15th August, 2015. He will be buried in Maiduguri.
“His Excellency, Hon. Kashim Shettima, the Executive Governor of Borno State, expresses his heartfelt condolence to the family of the Deputy Governor and the entire people of Borno State for the irreparable loss and appealed for prayers for the repose of the soul of our late Deputy Governor.
“May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace, Amen”.
President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President Bukola Saraki, and Governors Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo) and Akinwumi Ambode (Lagos) were among those shocked by the death.
In a statement, yesterday, Buhari, on behalf of the Federal Government, extended his heartfelt condolence to the late deputy governor’s family.
Similarly, the President commiserated with Governor Kashim Shettima and the people of Borno as he joined the governor, members of the Mustapha’s family, friends, political associates, colleagues in the Borno State government, constituents and supporters in praying God to receive his soul and grant him eternal rest.
Senate President Saraki, in his own condolence, said the death was still shocking, given that they both met last week.
Saaraki, in a statement, in Abuja, by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu, said it was difficult to believe the information that a man he met in Borno about a week ago during his tour of some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Maiduguri could have left this world so soon.
Saraki said: “When I met Umar Mustapha in Maiduguri, he was so full of life that it could not have crossed ones imagination that we were meeting for the last time”.
Lagos State Governor Ambode expressed deep pain over the passage of the deputy governor.
In a condolence message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, Ambode, who said he shared in the sorrow of his follow governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, over the sad event, noted that Mustapha was a loyal, diligent and dedicated deputy governor.
Ondo State Governor Mimiko described as a rude shock and unfortunate the death of the deputy governor.
Condoling with his Borno State counterpart and the people of the state, Mimiko, in his condolence message, said Mustapha would be sorely missed.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) expressed deep shock and sadness at the death.
In a statement issued in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party described Mustapha’s demise as a huge loss to his family, his party, his state and indeed to Nigeria.
The party commiserated with the people and government of Borno and prayed that God will grant repose to his soul.
