Senator Mohammed Ahmed Aruwa, who represented Kaduna central in the Fourth Republic, is dead. Family sources said he died in Kaduna around 4am on Sunday.

Aruwa was elected Senator for Kaduna Central constituency of Kaduna State in 1999 at the start of the Nigerian fourth republic, running on the All Peoples Party (APP) platform.

Among early mourners are the Deputy Senate Leader Bala Ibn Na’Allah, and Dr. Cosmos Eze, a senior lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

“We have indeed lost a philanthropist and distinguished parliamentarian during his time at the return of democracy in Nigeria.

“Aruwa is a humble and courageous person who worked tirelessly in the Senate chamber and outside to defend the interest of not only his constituents but the entire country in various capacities that included the promotion of football and helping the downtrodden in the country and in the diaspora where he also reigned,” Na’Allah said.

Dr. Eze in his tribute said that Aruwa as the owner and proprietor of Ranchers Bees Football Club managed by Alex Dominquez, an Argentine, featured northern great players such as Ali Nayaya and other great footballers that serviced the national team.

“His club, the Ranchers Bees, was a thorn in the flesh of others such as Abiola Babes Football Club of Abeokuta, Rangers International Football Club of Enugu, Mighty Jets of Jos and Kano Pillars,” Dr. Eze said.

He hailed Aruwa as the first northern elite to operate and manage a football club, towing the line of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola when in actual fact only state governments did so.

“Aruwa engaged actively in other sports such as polo and eventually started importing Argentine horses for polo in Nigeria. Argentine breeds are among world costliest race and polo horses.

“He brought Kaduna – in fact, Kaduna State – to the limelight in football and one stadium is named after Ranchers Bees.

“His stint in politics wasn’t all that good. Besides, he looked beyond Nigeria for conjugal bliss as one of his wives if not the only one is an Argentine.

“He remains an indomitable politician, sportsman, philanthropist and a man who looked beyond the horizon. Adieu Aruwa Ahmed,” the university don added.