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| The late Senator Mustapha Bukar, |
Senator Mustapha Bukar, representing Katsina North senatorial district, President Muhammadu Buhari’s constituency, is dead. He was aged 63.
This was coming barely a week after the death of a member of the House of Representatives from Kogi State, who was also Deputy House Leader, Hon. Umar Buba Jibrin, and less than a month after the demise of a senator from Bauchi state, Sen. Ali Wakili.
Both the Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogora, in separate statements, have expressed shock at the development they described as one too many.
Alhaji Kanta Bukar, younger brother of the deceased, confirmed the death and said that Bukar died in the early hours of Wednesday at the Nizamiye Hospital, Abuja.
The younger brother to the deceased, who said he was survived by two wives and 12 children, including Dr. Ibrahim Bukar of the Nigerian Communications Commission, also stated that he would be buried in Daura today.
Bukar described the death of his elder brother as an irreplaceable loss to the family, the state and the nation in general, stressing he was a bridge builder.
Malam Ahmed Abdullahi, the Personal Assistant to the late senator, described him as a hard working lawmaker, who represented his people diligently.
Abdullahi said the district would remember Bukar as one of the few lawmakers who represented the zone with commitment and dedication.
The late Bukar (APC) reportedly returned to Nigeria in March after spending one month in the UK on a medical mission.
Senator Bukar was the second senator to die in weeks, after Senator Ali Wakili, 58, who represented Bauchi south in the senate.
According to a biographical sketch published by National Assembly, Bukar finished his primary education in Daura in 1968, and thereafter went to Government Secondary School, Katsina. He graduated in 1973.
He also attended School of Basic Studies in Zaria (1975), from where he gained admission to read Engineering at Ahmadu Bello University. He graduated with a Bachelors in 1978.
After the National Youth Service, he worked as project manager for the Kaduna State Water Board and later as general manager.
He retired in 2008 as director of Katsina State Water Board.
Meanwhile, the Senate President, Saraki, while mourning the late senator, Wednesday, expressed deep sorrow over the death, after a brief illness in Abuja.
In a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, Saraki who described the death as one too many coming a few weeks after the Red Chamber lost Sen. Ali Wakili, said, "I am saddened to learn about the passing of another friend and colleague, Sen. Mustapha Bukar.
“When I and some of my colleagues visited Sen. 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, Sen. 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 surely 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 Senate President said.
He noted that the late Bukar was forthright and gentle in all his dealings, adding, “As we mourn his passing, my thoughts and prayers are with his family, President Muhammadu Buhari and the government and people of Katsina State.
Similarly, Speaker Dogara, who received with sadness and shock, the news of the death, described the deceased as a fine gentleman, who exhibited high moral disposition and earned respect from his colleagues and associates while representing Daura Zone in the Senate.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Media & Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan, the Speaker said, "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."
Dogara on behalf of the entire membership of the House of Representatives, extended their 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.
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