No fewer than two prominent political leaders in Nigeria lost their lives within one day.
The Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu and the former speaker of the Hose of Representatives, Ghali Na’abba died in the early hours on Wednesday.
While Na’abba died in an Abuja Hospital following a brief illness, Akeredolu also died in his sleep at a hospital in Germany where he was undergoing treatment for protracted prostate cancer.
Ghali Na’abba
Ghali Na’abba obtained a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1979.
The former lawmaker completed a postgraduate programme on Leadership and Good Governance at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University in the United States in 2004.
During his tenure as Speaker of the House, Ghali led several international bodies on parliament in the wake of the millennium.
He joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 1998 during its formative period.
He emerged as the party’s candidate in the April 1999 National Assembly election in Kano Municipal Federal Constituency of Kano state and won the election to represent the Federal constituency in the House of Representatives.
Rotimi Akeredolu
The governor, who has faced criticism for his decision to withhold power from his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, commenced his medical leave in June. The leave was subsequently prolonged based on medical advice.
He formally transferred authority to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and went on another medical vacation on Wednesday, December 13.
Known affectionately as Aketi, Akeredolu had a profound impact on the nation’s political climate. His public life trajectory includes advocacy, legal practice, serving as president of the Nigerian Bar Association, and winning two terms as governor of Ondo State.
