The Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bell,o on Wednesday wept at the burial of his Director of Protocol, Alhaji Haruna Mamman Jiya Vatsa, the eldest son of the late General Mamman Vatsa who was killed in the fantom coup during the General Ibrahim Babangida (IBB) led military junta.
Governor Bello described the death of Vatsa as a personal loss of his age-long and childhood friend, whose memories of hard work, commitments to duty, dedication, loyalty and kindness stood unparalleled.
The governor was at the Janaiza (funeral ) rites at the Vatsa family house in Malali Quarters, Kaduna together with Mallam Umar Farouq, Niger State, Director General, Religious Affairs.
Describing the deceased as a trusted ally, Bello said, “Haruna Mamman Vatsa was a friend whose fond memories I will live with for the rest of my life. He was one of those in the trenches with me in the struggle to restore good governance to good people of Niger State.
“This is one death that I see as a personal loss. Haruna was not just my Director-General of Protocol but a friend, a brother, a trusted and trustworthy aide, a confidant who believed and supported the course we stand for as a government”.
The deceased was one of the few Nigerlites who fought to ensure victory for the APC, he said, adding , “On the political battle space, Haruna was in the trenches of struggle to restore the glory of Niger State. We shall miss him greatly.”
Among sympathizers during the janaiza prayer were the Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Ketso, Secretary to Niger State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Isa Ladan, Head of Service, Alhaji Yabagi Sule, and Chief of Staff, Mikhail Al-Amin.