Shettima, Lawan, others attend Borno’s ex-SSG’s funeral

Vice President Kashim Shettina led Senate President Ahmed Lawan and other National Assembly members to the funeral of the immediate past Secretary to the Borno State Government, Usman Jidda Shuwa, who died on Saturday.

They joined Governors Babagana Zulum and Mai Mala Buni of Borno and Yobe states, respectively, in the prayers, which took place on Sunday at the residence of the deceased in Maiduguri.

The funeral prayer was led by the Chief Imam of Borno, Imam Laisu Ahmed, after which Shuwa was laid to rest at Gwange cemetery.

The Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Elkanemi, led traditional rulers to the funeral.

Also in attendance were former Governors of Borno and Kebbi states, Maina Ma’aji Lawan and Atiku Abubakar Bagudu, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, Ambassador Baba Ahmed Jidda and Senator-elect, Kaka Shehu Lawan, among others

Speaking to newsmen, the Vice President expressed shock over the death of the former SSG, describing him as one of the last icons.

“We lost a colossus, he was the last of the titans and an icon with a huge institutional memory of how the system works. We are surely going to miss his wise counsel and intellect. No one is indispensable in life, but he was almost irreplaceable,” Shettima said.

On his part, Zulum described Shuwa’s death as a huge loss to Borno, his family and Nigeria at large.

“The death of Usman Jidda Shuwa is a great loss to all of us in Borno. For the past couple of years, he has served the state diligently and his wealth of experience will be missed by all of us,” Zulum said.

Shuwa died at the age of 65, leaving behind two wives, children, and many relatives.

Shuwa served as SSG from 2015 to 2019 under then Governor Kashim Shettima and from 2019 to 2023 under Zulum.