Chairman of Lafia Local Government Area, who doubles as the state Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Mallam Aminu Muazu Maifata, has said that, people across the 13 local government areas of the state, were thrown into deep mourning following the demise of Alhaji Hassan Abdullahi Sule, the first son of Governor Abdullahi Sule.

Maifata made this known in an interview with journalists, shortly after leading former and present local government chairmen on a condolence, at the palace of the Emir of Gude, HRH, Alhaji Sule Bawa, on Saturday.

The ALGON Chairman said the people are grieving the loss of the first son of the state, because Hassan Abdullahi Sule was someone that never allowed his status to get into his head.

“Why we are so remorseful and so emotional about Hassan, is that Hassan was the quite type when he was alive. Hassan is someone that never considered himself as the first son in the state, that is the first son of the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State. Whenever he sees somebody that is elderly, even his younger ones, Hassan will always be the first to greet you.

“So, somebody with that level of cool headedness, in fact, it’s a great loss not only to the royal house of Gudi, or to His Excellency but to the entire state, especially we that are serving under His Excellency and we used to go to the house and office all the time, meeting this gentleman. In fact, it’s a great loss. We can only pray to Allah, SWT to grant him Aljannat Firdaus and may we, those following him behind, try to copy what Hassan was doing in this royal family,” Maifata added.

Earlier, while leading the set of local government chairmen from 2018 to date, on a condolence visit to the Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, the Lafia Local Government Chairman, said however, the people were consoled by the fact that, the father of the deceased is well versed in Islamic faith.

“This is a very heavy loss to His Excellency. It is a very big test from Allah, SWT to His Excellency. The consolation that we will always have is that, His Excellency is somebody that is deep in Islamic faith. He believes in destiny, he believes in whatever act that comes his way from Allah, SWT.

“So, somebody with that deep faith, then that is the relieve that we have. You can see from the way he has been receiving people, even though he is highly emotional but he is always controlling that level, always having faith in Allah, SWT,” he stated.

While commiserating with the Nasarawa first family, as well as the royal house of Gudi, the ALGON Chairman prayed for the repose of the soul of the departed Hassan, and for Allah to give his parents, family and people of the state, the strength to bear the loss.

“We are here to give special condolence on behalf of the entire people from our local government areas to you and the entire family of the royal house of Gudi. We pray that Allah, SWT shall grant Hassan Aljannat Firdaus and the fortitude for you and the state to bear this irreparable loss.

“They asked me to say that Hassan has been a friend to all of us. Hassan regarded each and everyone of us as senior brother, which whenever we meet with him, he will never allow you to greet him, rather he will bow down to greet you, being the first son of the state,” he said.