The former Speaker of Edo State house of Assembly, Hon. Zakawanu Garuba has died as a result of Covid-19 (Coronavirus) complications.

The decease passed at the Federal Medical Centre in the Federal Capital territory in early hours of Saturday, according to family sources.

The 55-year-old late politician, was hospitalised one week ago, when he took ill.

The devout Muslim, is survived by three Children and his widow, Mrs Hassan Garuba who works in the FCT Chief Judge’s office after serving as a Magistrate in Edo State.

Zakawanu is a Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP and former Commissioner at the Security and Exchange Commission. 
 
He was a native of Etsako West local government area of Edo State, in the South-South geo-political region of Nigeria

Raised in a family that placed a high value on discipline, a virtue which he has, since his childhood, he was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1990, having bagged a bachelor of laws degree from the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

After his mandatory one-year national service in 1990, he embarked on a legal career that was to span a total of 21 eventful years.

Zakawanu who holds the traditional titles of Oshiote of Auchi Kingdom and Okumagbe of Uzairue.

He was elected into the Edo State House of Assembly in 2003 and and became the Speaker of the Assembly in 2007.

He also had also served as the chairman of the House Committee on judiciary, human rights and legal matters, as well as memberships of other Committees at different times.

Zakawanu was later appointed into the board of the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC where he served as the Executive Commissioner, Finance and Administration (now known as the Corporate Services Directorate of the Commission.

Meanwhile, Governor Godwin Obaseki, has described the passing of former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Zakawanu Garuba as “a deep personal loss to him”.

The Governor in a statement on Saturday said: “I received the news of the passing of Rt. Hon. Zakawanu Garuba with a heavy heart. He was an outstanding Nigerian and a good man.

“He worked for the good of the people and contributed his quota to the development of his immediate community and the State.

“As Executive Commissioner, Corporate Services & Supervising Executive Commissioner, Operations at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Nigeria, late Garuba performed brilliantly, distinguishing himself as a true Edo son with his commitment to duty, innovativeness and sheer dexterity.

“As a politician and Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, he performed his tasks diligently, served the people meritoriously and provided sterling leadership to the legislative arm of government.

“He excelled in his private practice as a constitutional lawyer, bringing panache to the noble profession.”

“The former speaker was indeed an astute politician and his wise counsel will be greatly missed. We pray that God grants his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,” he added.

Similarly, the Peoples Democratic party has described the death of the former Speaker, Mr Zakawanu Garuba as sad.

The State Publicity Secretary of PDP, Mr Chris Osa Nehikhare in a statement titled, “We lost a very good man” on Saturday, said described the departed as brother, friend and leader as well as a trusted party man

According to the party, “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family as we ask God to give them the fortitude to bear this loss.

“We pray God to grant Zakawanu eternal rest.

In his tribute, Mr Oaku George, a social media user wrote: “RIP, he was a coolheaded Politician, he played Politics without bitterness”.

On his part, the Candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the Edo September 19 Governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, expressed shock and grief over the demise of Mr Zakawanu Garba.

In a personal condolence message released by Mr. John Mayaki, the Chairman of the State Media Campaign Council of the APC, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu mourned Zakawanu’s death as a “personal loss” which left him in shock and sober mien.

He said: “The death of Zakawanu Garuba, a former Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, has left me in shock and a deep sober mien.”

“Zakawanu Garuba was a great friend and dependable ally of many years. I am intimately and especially sad at his demise because we have lost a great asset. All of us, across ideologies and parties, as Edo people, has had an illustrious torch of brilliance and uprightness snuffed out by the cozy wind of death.”

“The sad news is made more tragic for me given the fact that I have looked forward, upon our victorious emergence at the polls, to seek the experienced hands of Zakawanu Garuba in the progressive mission of moving Edo State forward.”

“I have lost a friend; Edo State has lost an achieving son. We all should be sad but remain encouraged to, like Zakawanu Garuba, stand up for the ideals of truth, development, and democratic leadership, living our best lives in accordance with the principles we believe in while we still have life in us. This way, we will be remembered by our great works like we today remember my friend and our leader, Zakawanu Garuba.”

“My prayer is that Allah grants him Jannah, and his family, the fortitude to bear this heart-wrenching loss”.

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