Former President of the Senate, Sen. David Mark has expressed shock and sadness over the death of Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo Sate and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Ghali Na’abba.
In a statement by his Media Adviser, Mr Paul Mumeh in Kano on Wednesday, Mark described the death of the two leaders as exit of two political giants.
He said that their demise had created huge vacuum in Nigeria’s political class.
According to him, the exploits of Akeredolu in legal profession before going into politics to contribute to the development of his home state; Ondo and Nigeria in general were significant.
He said that the nation had lost a forthright, sincere, and an unrepentant defender of the rule of law and protection of human rights.
”As a lawyer and President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), he stood for the ordinary man and never compromised his professional standards.
”As a governor, he made policies and programmes that had direct positive impact on the people. Akeredolu was peoples’ governor,” he said.
On Na’abba, Mark said that the former Speaker was in the forefront in the struggle for democracy and helped laid the foundation for the present democratic dispensation.
He said that Na’abba would be remembered as the speaker who fought for the independent of the legislature in Nigeria.
”Na’abba stood to be counted when it mattered,” he said.
Also, the chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum(NGF) AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has mourned the death of Ondo state governor, Olurotimi Akeredolu (SAN).
AbdulRazaqdescribed the late governor as an exceptional statesman who made indelible marks in public service.
He said: “My heartfelt condolences go to the Progressives Governors’ Forum, the government and people of Ondo State, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), as well as the immediate family of my dear brother and colleague His Excellency Olurotimi Akeredolu SAN.
“A frontline lawyer and conscientious politician of progressive bent, His Excellency would be remembered for his courage, patriotism, and immeasurable contributions to the constitutional and sociopolitical development of Nigeria.”
