A former military administrator of Benue State, Col. Aminu Isah Kontagora (rtd.) has died of COVID-19 complications.
Col Kontagora was said to have died at the age of 65 in the early hours of Monday, January 11, 2021, at a health facility in Abuja.
Kontagora was a military administrator of Benue State between 1996 and 1998 during Abacha regime.
The deceased who was a former governorship aspirant on the platform of the PDP during the 2015 general polls had also served as a Military administrator of Kano State.
Meanwhile, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has declared Tuesday, January 12, 2021, a work-free day for workers.
The declaration was to mourn the death of Kontagora.
According to the statement issued by Ortom’s Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, the governor also directed that flags be flown at half-mast in honour of the deceased.
“Governor Samuel Ortom has declared Tuesday, January 12, 2021, as work-free day and urged that flags be flown at half-mast in honour of the deceased.
“Governor Ortom in his tribute this morning, described the death of Colonel Kontagora as a great loss to Nigeria and Benue State, in particular, stressing that his footprints in the state have remained indelible,” the statement read in parts.
Governor Ortom described Benue as the second home of the deceased, having remained in touch with the state during happy and trying moments.
The governor sympathised with the government and people of Niger State over the death of their illustrious son and prayed to God to grant his soul eternal rest.
In another tribute, a former Governor of the state and Senator representing Benue North-East Senatorial District, Dr Gabriel Suswam, commiserated with the bereaved family, saying the honour done to the deceased by Governor Ortom was well deserved as Colonel Kontagora had lived legacies that would always be remembered.