Former Speaker, House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, has passed on. He was aged 65.
His younger sister, Hussain Na’Abba, who confirmed the death, said the politician passed on, yesterday, about 3.00am at the National Hospital, Abuja.

The family member said the 8th Speaker of the green chamber would be buried in Kano later in the day.

Rumours of Na’Abba’s death had hit the social media in May 2020 during the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) era. But the Kano-born politician, who was away in London then, refuted the rumour.

Na’Abba, who led the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-dominated House after Salisu Buhari was shown the exit door for presenting a fake degree certificate from Toronto during the Olusegun Obasanjo presidency, later joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has commiserated with the Na’Abba family and Kano people over the death. .

In a condolence message issued by his Spokesperson, Sanusi Tofa, the governor described the deceased as a true democrat, who worked relentlessly to ensure the thriving of democracy, good governance, respect for rule of law and championing the cause of the common man.

“We received, with deepest shock, the death of our brother, Ghali Na’Abba, in the wee hours of today. The former Speaker, who died at the age of 65, was a complete gentleman, a true democrat, whose contributions to the sustenance of democracy in the country was appreciated and cherished by all” the governor said yesterday.

He added that Na’Abba’s death created a wide vacuum difficult to fill in the extended Na’Abba family, Kano and the country, as his contributions in strengthening democracy in the country and beyond would continue to be remembered and commended.

On his part, the Speaker, House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, expressed sadness over the demise of Na’Abba.

Describing Na’Abba as a lawmaker par excellence, Abbas hailed the late Speaker for championing the first and only successful veto of a sitting President, leading to the establishment of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

He also described the former Speaker as a dedicated, committed and patriotic Nigerian, who served his fatherland with zeal.

Abbas, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, noted that Na’Abba’s tenure brought stability to the House, leading to the members taking some landmark decisions in furtherance of the country’s democratic journey.