Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
June 5, 2023.
The Vice-President, Kashim Shettima, Ahmed Lawan Senate president and Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state mourn the death of former Secretary to the State Government, Usman Jidda Shuwa.
Shuwa died at 65 years on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), after a brief illness.
While mourning Shuwa on Sunday at the Gwange cemetery, the Chief Imam of Borno, Laisu Ibrahim performed the funeral prayers before the ex-SSG was laid to rest.
The Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Umar Ibn Garbai El-Kanemi led traditional rulers to the funeral.
Shettima expressed shock at the death of the ex-SSG, describing him as one of the last icons in the state.
His words: “We lost a colossus. He was the last of the titans and an icon with a huge institutional memory of how the system works.
“We are surely going to miss his wise counsel and intellect,” adding that no one is indispensable in life.”
He declared that Shuwa was almost irreplaceable.
While Zulum described Shuwa’s death as a big loss for Borno, his family and the country at large.
Continued; “The death of Shuwa is a great loss to all of us in the state.
“For the last two decades, he has served the state diligently and his wealth of experience will be missed by all of us.”
Others that joined Shettima and Zulum in mourning, included Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe state, former governors of Borno and Kebbi states, Maina Ma’aji Lawan and Atiku Abubakar Bagudu, Sen. Ali Ndume, Amb. Baba Ahmed Jidda and Senator-elect, Kaka Shehu Lawan.
The late Shuwa left behind two wives, several children and many relatives.
He served as the SSG from 2015 to 2019 under then Governor Kashim Shettima and from 2019 to 2023 under Zulum.
Shuwa served as SSG from 2015 to 2019 under then Governor Kashim Shettima and from 2019 to 2023 under Governor Zulum.
End.