Reps adjourn plenary for 7 days in honour of departed colleagues

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives yesterday adjourned plenary  for 7 days to honour two of its colleagues that died during its Easter recess.

The Speaker of the House, Rep Femi Gbajabiamila who expressed shocked over the demised of the lawmakers, announced that the plenary will suppended till April 20 to honor the departed colleagues.

Hon. Haruna Maitala (APC-Plateau) died on April 3 after a car accident on Abuja-Keffi road on his way to Jo’s.

Also Rep Suleiman Lere (APC-Kaduna) died on April 6 at Barau Diko Teaching Hospital, Kaduna State after a brief illness

Gbajabiamila while paying tribute to the departed lawmakers said “Maitala from Plateau State was quiet a  gentleman, the loss was very painful to his loved ones.

“ The circumstances surrounding his death is very painful, the day he died, he had just come back from an official assignment of ECOWAS parliament.

“ He was going to Jos for his son’s wedding when death confronted him, he died together with his son and Rep Yusuf Gadgi legislative aide.

“He tried to run for House of Representatives a couple of times and lost and eventually got it and then this,  we commiserate with the family,” Gbajabiamila said.

On Rep Lere, Gbajabiamila said “ Lere’s death is also painful, we know how he struggled in law courts for his election petition case and he eventually won almost after two years.

“We swore him in two months ago which was a very bitter fight, only for us to hear he died few weeks after his swearing in.

“Both deaths are difficult to understand but God knows best,” the speaker said.

The Speaker however said that on resumption next Tuesday, the House would hold a valedictory session for the late Rep. Ossy Prestige who also died in Feb.

He pleaded with members to be in attendance in order to honour their departed colleagues.

The majority Leader of the House, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa then moved the motion for adjournment till April 20.