The former Speaker of the House of Representatives and the man currently representing Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa of Bauchi State, Honourable Yakubu Dogara has expressed his sadness to the news of the death of Hajiya Jummai Balewa.
Honourable Dogara who was the 14th Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, in his condolence message to the family of Tafawa Balewa, prayed that the Almighty God give the family and people of Bauchi State and Nigeria the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. He said:
“From God, we came to Him all we shall return! We have lost a mother & matriarch; the last & youngest wife of Nigeria’s first & only Prime Minister, Alhaji Sir, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Hajiya Jummai Tafawa Balewa. My heartfelt condolences to the children, grandchildren and entire members of the Tafawa Balewa family, the people of Tafawa Balewa, Bauchi state and Nigeria at large. I pray the Almighty God to give us the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace” he said.
This message comes a few hours after the Governor of the State, Governor Bala Muhammed called on people of the state to honour the Balewa family by turning out en mass and attend the burial of Jummai Balewa.
In a statement issued by Muntari Gidado, his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Muhammed, described the death as a great loss, not only to her immediate family members but to the people of the state and Nigeria in general.
He recalled the active participation and contributions of the late prime minister in the Nigeria project, especially his tremendous contributions and sacrifices in keeping Nigeria as one indivisible and united entity.
Muhammed prayed to Allah to forgive her shortcomings, bless what she left behind, grant her paradise, and give her family, the people of the state and entire nation, the fortitude to bear the loss.
He, therefore, called on the people of the State to come out en-mass and attend the funeral prayer of the deceased Jummai Abubakar as a mark of respect for the Balewa family.
Jummai Abubakar passed away on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, in a Lagos hospital, at the age of 85, after a protracted illness.
The late Hajiya Jummai Balewa was the last and youngest wife of Nigeria’s first and only Prime Minister, Alhaji Sir, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.