Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, has commiserated with the government and people of Zamfara state and all Nigerians over the death of Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi.

Dogara, in a statement issued by his spokesman Turaki Hassan, in Lagos, described the death of the elder statesman as a huge loss to the nation.

He said Shinkafi was a true democrat who contributed immensely towards the restoration of democracy in Nigeria in 1999.

“In all his years in the public service, Shinkafi distinguished himself as a patriot, committed and dedicated Nigerian,” the speaker said.

“He served the nation with distinction as a lawyer, Police officer, federal commissioner of Internal Affairs and intelligence chief in the National Security Organisation before joining politics.”

The speaker said the late Shinkafi was a bridge-builder, cosmopolitan and lived exemplary live worthy of emulation.

Our heart goes to his immediate family, government and people of Zamfara state over the irreparable loss.