…Extols The Late Senator’s Virtues
BEVERLY HILLS, May 17, (THEWILL) – The death of the late Senator Ahmed Zannah Saturday in Abuja has been described as a painful exit.
Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, stated this on Sunday while mourning the passage of the late Senator, who until his death, represented Borno central senatorial district at The Senate.
Also describing the late Zannah as a passionate defender of Borno and its masses in the darkest days of insurgency attacks, Governor Shettima, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Mallam Isa Gusau, said: “Every true son and daughter of Borno and indeed the northeast sub-region must have taken note of the fearlessness, passionate and consistency displayed by late Senator Ahmed Zannah in defense of the masses in the wake of repeated attacks by Boko Haram insurgents.
“The late Senator defied fears and consistently pushed authorities into rising up to their obligations to protect lives and property of Nigerians. At every point there was an attack or potential threat to communities in Borno and the Northeast, Senator Zannah was always the first to come public demanding the rights of the masses to security of their lives and freedom.
“Zannah regularly stood for the masses without compromising for one second. He was stiff and firm in his convictions that were generally about fighting for the protection of lives.”
“His (Zannah) consistency must have played a key role in accelerating counter-insurgency operations in Borno State and the northeast in general. The late Senator’s residence along Damboa Road in Maiduguri has been permanently accessible to any citizen of Borno State that sorted relief from him after fleeing from attacks.
“He (Zannah) provided everything within his means to make life easy for thousands of citizens. He even encouraged many into getting involved in different forms of craftsmanship, producing marketable products, making them self employed citizens while taking refuge with him.”
The statement also described the late senator as “one of those that aggressively but silently complimented the giant efforts of the Borno State Government and its local government authorities in supporting citizens affected by the brutality of insurgents.”
“A good Nigerian and a learned and devoted Muslim that lived a humble lifestyle despite the high office he occupied,…these reasons that the APC thought it wise to support his re-election in order to sustain his many good works and for other Nigerians to emulate his sacrifices, patriotism and courage which is needed in order to make all of us in positions of authority live up to our obligations to those who put us where we are.
“Senator Ahmed Zannah died at a time Borno needed people like him in an effort to overcome the security challenges in the State and sustain reconstruction processes being enforced by the State Government.”
“The late Senator will no doubt be remembered as one who loudly defended the masses and silently supported them at a critical time, which makes his demise “a painful exit of the defender of the mass, kits and kin in Borno, ” Shettima said.
Zannah, who came into national limelight for standing out against President Goodluck Jonathan’s initial non-challant attitude to Boko Haram, was re-elected at the March 28 elections . He was first elected into the Senate in 2011 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when he surprisingly defeated the incumbent governor, Ali Modu Sheriff , of the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP).
He later moved to the All Progressives Congress (APC) shortly before the last elections and was given an automatic ticket of the new party as a reward of his advocacy.
