Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Governor of Osun State has described the death of the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor and Minister of Finance, Mallam Adamu Ciroma, has a huge loss the nation.
Aregbesola said the former Managing Director of the New Nigerian Newspapers was an astute politician and one of the respectable political voices in the whole or the Northern region.
In a statement by his Media Adviser, Mr. Sola Fasure, the Governor disclosed that Mallam Ciroma’s death is shocking and painful to hear.
He noted that politicians of Ciroma’s hue are few and far between, standing him alone among the prominent and most influential politicians coming out of the region and one that served the nation with all his capacity.
Aregbesola said Ciroma as a politician had been around for long and in the service of the country in numerous capacities both at the state and national level.
Governor Aregbesola described him as a ‘principled politician’ and recalled that Mallam Ciroma supported June 12, 1993 Presidential Election won by Basorun Moshood Abiola, arguing that Abiola ‘won fair and square’ and should sworn in. Aregbesola stated that history would be kind to Mallam Ciroma for taking this position.
The statement read in part: “The death of Mallam Adams Ciroma came to me with a rude shock.
“This was a highly respectable and influential politician and a reputable voice from the North. He had been around since after the independence, taking part in major decisions that had shaped the country both in trying moment and in peace.
“He had witnessed Nigeria’s political development from the First Republic to the present democracy and participated in all, which made him one of the most highly experienced and informed politicians living in the country until his exit on Thursday.
“Mallam Ciroma was a principled politician. He was one of the treasured voices that criticised the annulment of the June 12, 1993, Presidential Election won by Basorun Moshood Abiola and importuned the Nigerian military government, to the hearing of the whole world on BBC, asking for its de-annulment. He argued admirably that Abiola won the election ‘fair and square’ and should be sworn in. History will be kind to him for this.
“There is no denying the fact that the nation will in some days and years to come miss the experience and interventionist roles of this man of immense wisdom and political knowledge.
“We can only find solace in Allah for giving us Ciroma and for calling him to the higher realm. Death is the end of all. Mallam Ciroma just answered his creator’s call after a life well lived and deserving of emulation.
“On behalf of my family, the government and the good people of Osun, I pray that Allah will forgive all his shortcomings and grant him Aljanna Firdaus. I pray also that Allah will grant you and the entire family, his friends, colleague, the government and the people of Yobe comfort and the strength to bear this huge loss.”
Packaged by Rahman Salami
