“We don’t want to die now” a lawmaker who, in an exclusive chat with Platforms Africa, blamed colleagues untimely death on “spiritual attacks from enemies;” revealed “secret” of how panicky members “fortified” themselves
Four popular Federal lawmakers in Nigeria died in what some of their colleagues described as “mysterious circumstances” in the last 56 days, a situation that is gradually enveloping the House of Representatives, where they belong while alive, with serious apprehension.
Platforms Africa reports that the “mysterious” deaths recorded between February 8 and April 6, 2021, include that of Hon. Maitala Haruna, representing Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency of Plateau state, who died penultimate week alongside his son, driver and security aide in a road accident.
So far, 11 lawmakers have died due to what has been described as “sudden death” or “brief illness” since the beginning of this current Assembly.
Also known as the Green Chamber, the House of Representatives lost four members in the latest gale that blew across its four walls.
The latest fatality was Hon. Suleiman Aliyu, who died Tuesday, April 6, at the age of 52 years.
Aliyu, who represented Lere Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, passed on at the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Kaduna State during a brief illness.
“We Don’t Want to die”
Panic, findings by Platforms Africa showed, has gripped some lawmakers over the death of their colleagues in quick succession.
Some of them expressed sadness at the demise of four if their colleagues within 56 days.
Blaming “sudden death” or “death after a brief illness” of his colleagues on many factors, a lawmaker representing a Federal Constituency in the Southwest Nigeria told Platforms Africa that many factors including spiritual attacks from political enemies could be reaponsible.
“We have being told that some of them died because of lackadaisical attitude to health and regualr checkup and to accident but I still believe that their political enemies could still be responsible. It can be attack from enemies.
“As a politician, I should know this and none of us should overlook any of these possibilities. I, like many other colleagues that I am close to, consistently fortify myself while I do not, at the same time, jettison my checkup because I don’t want to die now. I believe none of us want to die now,” he said after his anonymity was guaranteed.
Asked what he and those he knew used to fortify himself or themselves, he said; “we have pastors, Alfas and even traditional worshippers known as the Babalawo and Onisegun in Yorubaland, who consistently intercede spiritually on our behalf through prayers or sacrifices. When it comes to safety and security of our lives, we do all these, we don’t discriminate because no one wants to die due to spiritual attacks from enemies.”
Another lawmaker added that apart from nature and fate, some of these deaths may have health related complications.
According to him some of the deaths may be due to the undue pressure which these lawmakers were usually exposed to in the course of their service to their constituents.
Cenotaph for the death
Suleiman Aliyu
Born on April 26, 1968, Aliyu was an engineer before delving into politics and held an M.SCin Civil Engineering.
He had a tumultuous stay in the House since 2019 as he was earlier sacked from the parliament by the Kaduna State Election Tribunal, but later reinstated by the Supreme Court.
Aliyu is the eleventh member of the lower chamber to die in the current assembly.
He has been buried on Tuesday evening in Lere, Kaduna state according to Islamic rites.
Hon Maitala Haruna
His death occurred a few days after another member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Maitala Haruna, representing Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency of Plateau state died. Haruna died in a road accident last Friday on his way to Jos from Abuja.
The lawmaker, who died alongside his son, driver and security aide, was heading to Jos to attend the wedding ceremony of one of his sons when the unfortunate incident occurred.
Hon Yuguda Kila
Hon. Yuguda Kila, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), died on March 4, 2021. He was said to have died at the National Hospital, Abuja at the age of 65 years.
Kila represented Gwaram Federal Constituency of Jigawa State in the lower chamber of the parliament.
Hon Ossy Prestige
The House had, earlier in the year lost Hon. Ossy Preatige, a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) who represented Abia North/Abia South Federal Constituency of Abia State.
Ossy died on Monday, February 8, 2021 after a protracted illness. Ossy, aged 56, was first elected to the House in 2015 and re-elected in 2019.
A native of Agboji community of Abriba in Ohafia, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Government and Public Administration from the Abia State University, Uturu. He also obtained an MBA in Shipping and Logistics from the Lloyds
Maritime Academy London, UK. Before venturing into politics, he was a seasoned Customs broker, maritime services provider, shipping consultant and importer of diverse merchandise.
He was also widely known for his charity works. He was married with children.
