The Senate yesterday eulogised the virtues of its late member, Senator Mustapha Bukar, who represented Katsina North senatorial district on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) and died on April 4, 2018. The apex legislative chamber also reinforced its earlier resolution to set up an endowment fund that could be used to support families of deceased members of the National Assembly. The senators, who dedicated the day to paying their last respect to their late colleague, took turns to extol the virtues of the departed lawmaker, with all the politicians saying that Senator Bukar lived a life committed to service of humanity.
Leader of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan (APC, Yobe North), who read the biography of the late legislator, urged the chamber to expeditiously pass all the bills being sponsored by Senator Bukar before he died, as one of the ways to appreciate his contributions to the Senate and the country in general. He also requested the upper chamber to conclude its earlier plans to immortalise deceased former members of the National Assembly to reward their efforts and to further encourage serving members to be dedicated to their legislative responsibilities.
The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, while making contribution, described the death of the Senator as a heavy blow to the Senate and the entire nation, noting that it was a grave loss and big blow not only to the Senate and the National Assembly but to the entire nation.
Also, the Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio (PDP, Akwa Ibom), in his contribution, described the late Bukar as a peace builder, lamenting that his death was very painful. Deputy Leader of the Senate, Bala Na’Allah (APC, Kebbi), noted that Senator Bukar never had problems with anybody throughout his stay in the red chamber, saying, “it is a painful day for us.
I am diminished by his death.” The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, in his remarks, noted that though Senator Bukar was a first time lawmaker in the red chamber, he stood out for the quality of his contributions on the fl oor, his pragmatism and his work towards strengthening the institution of the legislature.
