PDP loses NASS member-elect in Taraba

• Betara Recalls Last Moment With Him

The Taraba State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has again, been thrown into mourning, as member-elect for Jaling, Yorro, Zing Federal Constituency, Ismaila Maihanchi, passed on. He died in the early hours of yesterday at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Maihanchi, who jostled for the position on the platform of the PDP in the just-concluded National Assembly election, won with a wide margin against his fellow contestants from the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Confirming his demise, the state PDP Public Relations Officer (PRO), Andeta’rang Irammae, said the party received the news of his death “with shock.”

Wondering why death came calling at the time his service is mostly needed by the party and the state as a whole, the deceased member-elect, according to him, “fell ill shortly after he won the election.”

While urging the party’s faithful to remain calm, he said efforts were already on top gear to take his remains to Jalingo, the state capital, for a befitting burial.

Meanwhile, one of the leading aspirants for the position of the Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives, Muktar Aliyu  Betara, has expressed shock over his colleague’s demise.

Betara, who chairs the House Committee on Appropriations, in a statement, expressed grief over the ugly incident, adding that the deceased was “a brother and friend.”

Commiserating with the people and government of Taraba State, he reminisced his last moment with him thus: “I was with him shortly before I departed to Saudi Arabia for the Lesser Hajj. Ismai’l Maihanshi from Taraba was one of the front soldiers of One Nation, Forward-Together.

“The news of his death came as a huge shock to me, knowing full well the depth of his knowledge and vision for a prosperous Nigeria, which we collectively share. Ismai’l Maihanchi will sorely be missed by all of us.

“My condolences to the government and people of Taraba State, as well as his immediate family. May Almighty Allah forgive his sins and grant the departed soul Jannatul-Firdaus, Amin.”