By SUNDAY JOHN

The remains of a former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Sen. Solomon Ewuga, was on Saturday laid to rest in his hometown, Alushi community of Nassarawa-Eggon Local Government Area of the state.

Ewuga, who died on Sept. 24 after a prolonged illness in an Egyptian hospital where he was receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment, was 70 years old.

The former deputy governor was buried at about 2:30 p.m. in his family compound after the funeral service.

Ewuga was also a Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and a senator who represented Nasarawa North in the 7th National Senate.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that amongst the dignitaries at the funeral service were Gov. Abdullahi Sule, Mr Peter Obi, Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in 2023, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, first civilian governor of the state, Mr Labaran Maku, former Minister of Information, and Sen. Umaru Al-Makura.

Also in attendance were religious and traditional leaders, all former deputy governors of Nasarawa State, the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, Joshua Dariye, Mrs Josephine Piyo, Deputy Governor of Plateau, and Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, Zephaniah Jisalo.

Friends and associates of the former minister, present and former state and national assembly members from Nasarawa and Plateau States, among others, were also on the ground to pay their last respects to the deceased.

Speaking at the service, Gov. Sule described the deceased as a man who dedicated his life to the service of God and humanity.

He noted that the deceased was a global citizen who related with everyone freely, irrespective of religion or tribal affiliations, and who believed in mentoring the younger generation.

“Whenever Ewuga visited me, it was to ask for one thing or the other for others or for a community and not for himself, Sule added.

The governor said that Ewuga died when his wise counsel and experience to transform the state were needed most.

Sule promised to continue to support the family the deceased left behind.

Also, Maku, who spoke on behalf of former deputy governors of the state, described the death as a personal loss and a great loss to the Eggon nation, the state and the entire country.

Maku called on leaders to be united and prioritise the interests of the state and the people, and desist from politics that bring destruction and division.

“This is the third former deputy governor we are burying, and I pray that this one will teach us something to know the emptiness of life, to unite and develop the state for the sake of our people.

Earlier, Josephine Dokotri-Ewuga, wife of the deceased, described him as a loving husband and father who always wanted to help the vulnerable in society to make their lives worthwhile.

She said that her husband was paying school fees for a lot of children at various levels of education, and that he would always go out of his way to help the less privileged children achieve greatness in life.

The deceased’s wife expressed the believe that her husband was resting at the bosom of the Lord Jesus Christ, given the good life he led on earth.

She appreciated the state government, friends, family members and the associates of her husband for standing by them during their trying moments and prayed God to bless them all. (NAN)