Second Republic minister Umaru Dikko dies at 78

A top northern politician and second republic transport minister, Umaru Dikko, is dead.

Dikko, who until his death was the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, died in the early hours of Tuesday in a London hospital at the age of 78.

The deceased politician had been sick for some time, a condition that did not allow him to function well in the PDP office.

Meanwhile, Nigerians including President Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President, David Mark, and governors have been pouring encomiums in the departed politician.

President Jonathan on Tuesday said he received the news of the death of Dikko with sadness.

In a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, Jonathan extended commiseration to the family, friends and political associates of the former minister. Jonathan said the deceased played a leading role in the National Party of Nigeria, which controlled the Federal Government in the second republic that lasted between 1979 and 1983. The statement read in part, “President Jonathan firmly believes that Alhaji Umaru Dikko’s significant contributions, especially his life-long advocacy for stronger political parties, greater discipline within political parties and the supremacy of political parties have assured him of a place in the annals of Nigeria’s political development.

“He prays that God Almighty will receive Alhaji Umaru Dikko’s soul and grant him eternal rest.”

Also, the Northern States Governors Forum on Tuesday described the death of Dikko as a further depletion in the ranks of leaders in the northern states. The forum said it was time for a sober reflection and “a time for the region and the nation to remain committed to building leadership inspired by service.”

Chairman of the NSGF and governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, who spoke on behalf of the forum in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Israel A. Ebije, said the growing number of dead prominent Nigerians only suggested that the younger generation must step into the shoes of departed leaders.

Aliyu said, “This is indeed another sad episode to the already challenging times Nigeria is passing through as a country. The death of Umaru Dikko and a few prominent Nigerians in less than two months is a reminder that the present generation of Nigerians must grow up mentally and morally with collective objective towards a common developmental destination within the confines of appropriate leadership tenets.

“The demise of our leaders should remind us that the place of the youths is now, not tomorrow. The youths of today must therefore show signs of leadership by eschewing violence, steering clear of sentiments and avoid ethno-religious balkanisation of the country so that we can grow Nigeria to attain its position in the committee of nations”

A former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, described Dikko as a courageous advocate of the rule of law, constitutionality and democracy. In a condolence statement issued by his media office in Abuja, the former Vice President, said despite the public hostility to the late Dikko, the man had other virtues that Nigerians did not seem to appreciate. He said Dikko was a fierce opponent of unconstitutional seizure of power by soldiers. He recalled that Dikko was the loudest critic of military rule, a role for which he said the former minister was singled out for special punishment because he was a vocal critic of the new military rulers of December 1983. He said while Dikko had his shortcomings, he was a passionate democrat that vigorously opposed the take-over of government by unconstitutional means.