SDP Leaders Pay Final Respects As Late Senator Akwashiki’s Body Arrives Abuja
The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the 2023 election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, a former Governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Tanko Al-Makura, and other party leaders on Monday received the remains of the late Senator Godiya Akwashiki at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Akwashiki, who represented Nasarawa North Senatorial District in the 10th Senate on the platform of the SDP, died last Wednesday in an Indian hospital at the age of 52. The body of the late lawmaker was taken from the airport to the National Hospital, Abuja, shortly after the casket was brought down from the aircraft.
Speaking with journalists, Adebayo described the late senator as one of the strongest members of the party, saying his death was a huge loss to his family, Nasarawa State and the country.
He said the loss was felt beyond party lines, noting that Akwashiki was widely respected.
Adebayo added “We know how his senatorial district and the whole state feel. Many people who knew Godiya Akwashiki knew that he was a gentleman of the highest calibre. The only consolation we can draw is that he died and left a good name behind, which is far better than many who are alive. He was a great man”.
The SDP leader added that the late senator enjoyed the confidence of his constituents and the respect of his colleagues, adding “He was a man whom the constituency had full confidence in. Many of his colleagues, including the Rt Hon Gaza here and former governor Al-Makura, and many people from all walks of life, have been testifying. But the most important thing is how the people of his district feel now,” he stated.
On the impact of the death on the party, Adebayo said it was a major setback, adding “Yes, a negative impact on the entire state, even on the legislative quality and the kind of politics he played. For us, we don’t have many like him, and to lose one of the strongest, you can know it’s a great loss”.
The Acting National Chairman of the SDP, Dr Sadiq Gombe, said the party was deeply saddened by the death, adding “It is very unfortunate. We feel greatly saddened by the death of our distinguished senator, Godiya Akwashiki, representing Nasarawa State. It is a great loss not only to his constituency and Nasarawa State, but to the SDP family across the nation and Nigeria at this trying period of our democracy,”
According to him, “God gives life, and God takes life. What God does is always the best. We condole with the immediate family, the people of his constituency, Nasarawa State and Nigeria at large.”
Akwashiki, a native of Angba Iggah in Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area, was first elected to the Senate in 2019 and re-elected in 2023 on the platform of the SDP.
