One time Senator from Katsina State, Kanti Bello is dead. He reportedly died in the early hours of Tuesday, Augyst 29 in Abuja, according to family members.
Bello represented Katsina North in the senate between 2003 and 2007 and has of late been one of the virulent critics of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressive Congress ( APC) which he is part of.
Bello was said to have been sick for some time now but his demise was a shock to his family and associates.
Meanwhile,Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has expressed sadness over the death of former Senator Kanti Bello, describing it as a heavy loss to the entire nation.
Ekweremadu, who served with the late Senator in the fifth and sixth Senate, said the Katsina-born Senator was a “cosmopolitan and highly detribalised Nigerian, who worked tirelessly to help solve Nigeria’s leadership challenges”.
He said: “Distinguished Senator Kanti Bello was an elder brother, neighbour, and a patriot in all ramifications. He was a politician, who commanded the respect of the high and mighty and the masses because of his integrity, patriotic zeal, astuteness, and development-driven kind of politics.
“He was a fearless politician, who never minced words in speaking his mind and the truth. And he was certainly a political machine whose reach stretched to every corner of the nation. He understood the nation’s political terrain like the back of his hand.
“I am most saddened that he departed at a time the nation needed patriots of his ilk most in order to arrest the widening divisiveness in the country and help build a nation of our dreams”.
The Deputy President of the Senate, who condoled with the people and government of Katsina State over the sad development, also prayed God to grant his family, associates, and the people of Katsina State the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Also, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed grief over the passing of Kanti-Bello, saying he was a their respected Party Leader, distinguished Nigerian and elder statesman.
The APC has therefore offered condolences to the family, the people and government of Katsina State, the Senate and indeed the entire nation over the loss.
In a statement on Wednesday, August 30 by APC spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, the Party said: “While the death of the late Senator Mahmud Kanti-Bello is sad and painful, we must continue to thank the Almighty Allah for the long and impactful life he had lived.
“As many who were closely associated with the late Senator will attest, he will be remembered for his political principles and as a vocal defender of progressive causes. The APC recalls fondly the nationalistic role played by the late senator who supported the National Assembly’s decision to invoke the doctrine of necessity on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 to empower the Vice President Goodluck Jonathan at the time to serve as acting president.
“The late federal legislator and grassroots politician during his two-term in the Senate supported legislation that ensured accountability at all levels of government, people-centred policies and initiatives to develop the country.
“Indeed the Party and nation has lost a progressive voice who always spoke truth to those in power irrespective of partisan, religious or ethnic considerations.
“We pray the Almighty Allah have mercy on his beloved soul, grant him Aljanna Firdaus and give the family the strength to bear the loss. Amin.”