Date: 2017-10-20

The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, has described the death of former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Saidu Isa, as a rude shock and huge loss to Nigeria.

Abdullahi said his demise had created a vacuum in the nation's governance and polity because of his colossal experience, especially in the area of diplomacy.

A statement personally signed by the APC National Publicity Secretary, a copy of which was made available to Journalists in Ilorin yesterday, said Nigeria has lost a patriotic personality.

Abdullahi noted that Saidu Isa's death came at a critical time that his contributions and services were needed to reshape the nation's polity and diplomacy.

He said the late former Minister stood a good chance to contribute own quota to new policies on how to strength foreign relationship due to his diplomatic mien.

Abdullahi, a former Minister of Sports and Chairman, National Sports Commission, recalled that Saidu Isa also offered his best in civil service of Kwara State when he rose to the pinnacle of the service as Head of Service and Secretary to the State Government.

He condoled with the President of the Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki; Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State and the bereaved family over the demise of the erstwhile Minister and prayed Allah to forgive his inadequacies.

The APC spokesman's statement partly reads, "The death of Alhaji Saidu Isa came to me as a rude shock and it is a huge loss to us in the APC family. Nigeria is going to miss him due to his colossal experience on foreign matters. He stood a good chance to contribute his own quota to any debate that could assist in preparing new policies on foreign diplomacy.

"It is our conviction that Nigeria has lost a patriot, a dependable and a loyal personality, who was always ready to offer his best to us. Alhaji Saidu Isa's death therefore created a huge vacuum that would be rare to fill.

"The most painful of this death is that it came at a critical time that his colossal experience could have been garnered to reshape the governance, polity and diplomacy due to his diplomatic mien. He was an experienced hand when it comes to foreign matters.

"This death is not for Kwara alone but Nigeria as a whole. We commiserate with the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki and the Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, APC team and the bereaved family for this huge loss. We pray Almighty Allah to forgive his inadequacies and grant him Al-Janat firdaus".