President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with family of former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, joining Plateau State Government and indigenes in mourning the passing of the renowned politician.
President Buhari, in a condolence message by his spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, on Tuesday in Abuja commiserated with leaders and members of the National Aseembly, friends and political associates of the deceased.
The President noted that Mantu dedicated most of his life to service of his people.
According to him, Mantu’s legacy of reconciliation and promotion of peaceful co-existence will always be remembered, especially in bringing more harmony in his state and the country at large.
He prayed for the repose of the soul of the departed.
Late Mantu was born in Chanso village, Gindiri District, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau on Feb. 16, 1947.
He attended the Gindiri Demonstration Primary School from 1955 – 1961 and obtained the First School Leaving Certificate.
He worked with the Public Works Department (PWD) Jos, as a Stores Requisition Clerk from 1962 – 1963 before proceeding to the Gindiri Teachers College in 1964.
On leaving Gindiri in 1967, he joined the Nigerian Tobacco Company, Zaria in 1968 as a Quality Checker.
He moved to BEAM, a division of UAC Nigeria as a Kalamazoo Specialist Salesman in 1971.
Mantu holds a B.A. (Hons.) degree in Political Science from the Washington International University.
He was awarded Honourary Doctorate Degrees of Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, University of Jos, Madonna University, Okija and University of Applied Sciences and Management Port Novo, Benin Republic.
Politics
Mantu joined politics in 1978 and was elected Deputy State Chairman of NPN in Plateau in 1980.
He was a founding member of the Liberal Convention.
Mantu’s contested for the National Chairmanship of the N.R.C. in 1990 but lost.
In 1993, Mr Mantu was the Director General of National Republican Convention Presidential Campaign Organisation.
In 1998, he was elected the National Publicity Secretary of the defunct UNCP and was later elected senator on the platform of the same party.
This election was truncated by General Abdusalam Abubakar’s regime.
On inauguration in 1999, Mantu was appointed Chairman Senate Committee on Information, the position he held till August 10, 2001, when he was elected Deputy President of the Senate.
He was appointed Chairman, Joint National Assembly Constitution Review Committee from 2001 to 2003 and 2003 to 2007 respectively.
He was Chairman of Policy Analysis and Research Project (PARP) which metamorphosed into National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS). Though a legislator, Mantu handled many executive assignments.
Until his death, he was a member of the Board of Trustees (BOT) and National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP.
Mantu was a grassroots politician who empowered people- Lalong
Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau has described the late former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, as a grassroots politician who did everything within his power to serve and empower the people.
This is contained in a statement issued by Makut Macham, the state Director of Press and Public Affairs in Jos on Tuesday.
Lalong said that the death of Mantu, who is the Wazirin Pyem, is a great loss to Plateau and Nigeria at large.
"The news of the demise of the elder statesman and erudite politician was received with a heavy heart, recalling his enormous contributions to the socio-political development of the state and the nation at large.
”The late senator earned his place in Nigerian politics through active involvement and with a great connection to the youths whom he mentored not only in politics, but in his service to humanity,” he said.
He said that the state would miss the voice of peace and unity as well as an advocate of social cohesion and tolerance which the late deputy senate represented particularly during the trying moments of its history.
‘’Until his death, he continued to avail the government of his wealth of experience and knowledge in running the affairs of the people,” he said.
The governor said that the state would remain grateful for his political representation as two-term senator representing Plateau Central Zone where he emerged deputy senate president and did a lot to project and protect the interests of Plateau State at the red chambers.
He said Mantu attracted many projects and programmes of the Federal Government to the state and also ensured that Plateau citizens were represented at various levels of the federal administration.
Lalong condoled with the widow of the deceased, his children, people of Pyem Chiefdom and the entire state over the death of the late political leader “whose contributions to the growth of democracy in Nigeria remained indelible.”
He also prayed for God to forgive his sins and grant his soul eternal rest.
Pillar that won't be forgotten - PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has also expressed sadness over the death of Sen. Ibrahim Mantu.
The party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, on Tuesday in Abuja, described late Mantu, as a “pillar in the PDP,” who could not be forgotten.
Ologbondiyan said that the PDP was devastated and inconsolable by the death of one of its leading elders and a member of its Board of Trustees (BoT).
He said that Mantu’s death was a huge tragedy which had befallen not only the PDP but Nigeria at large.
“Sen. Mantu was a highly resourceful leader, an excellent lawmaker, exemplary democrat and dazzling political mobiliser; a very humble and detribalised statesman, who spent his life in innumerable sacrifices towards the unity, stability and economic development of our dear fatherland,’’ he said.
Ologbondiyan noted that late Mantu brought his love for the nation, as well as his skills to bear in the Senate, where he served as Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, and Deputy Senate President.
He also noted that the late deputy senate president, who died on Tuesday, played key roles in stabilising the Senate for greater legislative productivity.
“His political dexterity as the Chairman of Joint National Assembly Constitution Review Committee from 2001 to 2003 and from 2003 to 2007, laid the strong foundation for successful reviews of the constitution to reflect the aspirations of Nigerians.
“Mantu was a pillar in the PDP and our party will never forget his sacrifices to ensure the success and growth of the PDP at all levels.
“Above all, Senator Mantu was a good man, a God-fearing soul, who spared nothing in ensuring the wellbeing of others above personal pursuits.
“Mantu’s death is indeed a big blow to our party, but we draw solace in the fact that he lived a fulfilled life and made impart in his calling as a patriot,’’ Ologbodiyan said.
...Devastating loss to political class - David Mark
Former President of the Senate, David Mark, has expressed shock and sadness over the demise of Mantu, calling it a 'devastating loss to the political class'.
Mark, in a statement signed by his Media Aide, Paul Mumeh, on Tuesday in Minna, said that the former lawmaker died at a time when his wealth of experience, wisdom and services were most needed to navigate through the murky political terrain.
Mark described Mantu as a flamboyant leader, who brought panache, character and sagacity to the political space.
The former Senate president stated: “In Mantu, I have lost a friend, brother and compatriot who believed in the sanctity of our unity and ideals of nationhood.
“Mantu played a politics of inclusiveness, fairness, equity and justice. He was a politician who built bridges of understanding across the length and breadth of Nigeria.
“He was a political leader of high repute. He stood to be counted when it mattered. His death is indeed one too many. He will sorely be missed.
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“I am however, consoled that Mantu lived an exemplary life worthy of emulation,”Mark said.
The former Senate president prayed God in His infinite mercies to grant the deceased eternal rest and his family the fortitude to bear the loss.
Huge loss to Plateau, Nigeria – Sen. Dimka
Sen. Hezekiah Dimka (APC, Plateau Central), has described the death as a huge loss to the people of Plateau and the country.
Dimka, Chairman, Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, while commiserating with his family and political associates, said that death had robbed the state of a true and detribalised and committed political figure.
He said that the late Mantu operated beyond religious and ethnic boundaries while in service and out of it.
“During his service years as Senator representing Plateau Central, he is on record to have touched numerous lives.
“He exposed them to the national stage without recourse to where they came from,” the lawmaker said.
He urged the people to live in peace with one another as they reflect on the life and times of Sen. Mantu.
Dimka prayed Allah to grant his soul and others departed rest.
