Nigeria’s former military President, General (rtd) Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), has joined other well meaning Nigerians in paying tribute to late Senator Jonathan Silas Zwingina.
It is recalled that the Adamawa State-born politician died on Wednesday, October 2, at the age of 70 in the nation’s capital, Abuja. Late Zwingina was a former Senate Majority Leader, in the start of 4th Republic and wad also the former Director-General of the MKO Abiola campaign Organisation in the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
In a statement IBB personally signed on Wednesday and made available to Veracity Desk (veracitydesk.com) described Zwingina as a man who has touched countless lives and whose works and legacies will be remembered for years to come.
He described the death of Senator Zwingina as a rude shock to him and had left him utterly stunned, adding that their paths crossed over four decades ago.
The former military President further described the late Senator not only a politician but a public servant, a leader, statesman and a mentee who devoted his life for the development of Adamawa State and the country at large.
IBB again noted that the deceased exhibited capacity to sustain discourse, and that his penchant and love for democracy, coupled with his ability to dissect socio-political issues distinguished him throughout his trajectory in life.
The elderstatesman maintained that Zwingina’s passion for a society where justice and human rights reign defined his persona in his engagements through life.
He however closed his statement with a prayer to seek God’s forgiveness for the departed while also asking God to place Zwingina amongst saints in the hereafter.
Read the release in extenso as reproduced hereunder:
