The Senate was in mourning on Saturday for former Speaker of the House of Representatives Ghali Na’Abba.
This followed the approval in plenary of a motion by the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin (APC-Kano).
The former president died on Wednesday in Abuja, at the age of 65.
Barau said Na’Abba stood firm in favor of the independence of the legislative arm of government during his tenure as president from 1999 to 2003.
He said the former President was instrumental in the successful take-off of the House of Representatives by putting in place all the necessary structures to galvanize a new legislature to discharge its functions.
He called on the Senate to honor Mr. Na’Abba’s contributions to the development of the legislature in the country by observing a minute of silence.
”This is the reason to officially report in this August session the death of the founding president of the House of Representatives of the Fourth Republic, Rt. Hon. Ghali Umar Na’Abba,
“He died on Wednesday in Abuja and was buried in Kano according to Islamic rites.
“He was president of the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003.
“He fought to put in place the necessary structure for the takeoff of the House of Representatives of the Fourth Republic.
“He was a tenacious fighter who stood firm for the independence of the legislature.
”He will always be remembered for the sacrifices he made to ensure that the House of Representatives was in the best place to perform its functions.
“He needs to be honored by this distinguished Senate for his contributions to the development of this country’s legislature.
“I hereby urge that a minute of silence be observed in his honour,” Mr Barau said.
Adamu Aliero (PDP-Kebbi), supporting the motion, said the late Na’Ábba played a prominent role in the Fourth Republic as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
READ ALSO: Former President Ghali Na’Abba dies at 65
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, in his remarks, said Na’Abba was a pillar in defending the independence of the legislative arm at the beginning of the Fourth Republic.
He said it was during Mr. Na’Abba’s tenure that elaborate rules of the legislature were formulated.
NAN reports that the Senate then observed a minute of silence in honor of the memory of Mr. Na’Abba.
(YAYA)