Borno Mourns Deputy Governor

Mustapha, died of in his sleep
The Deputy Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Zannah Umar Mustapha, yesterday died of cardiac arrest in his hotel room in Yola in Adamawa State.
He was buried yesterday in Maiduguri, Borno State according to Islamic rite.
He was said to have been found dead by his security aides.
According to a reliable source, the deceased had arrived in Yola on Friday and lodged in Hometel Hotel along Army Barracks Road, which is very close to the Adamawa State House of Assembly.
The source said: “The Deputy Governor of Borno State was found dead in his room on Saturday morning by his security aides. He died of suspected cardiac arrest.
“Unlike his normal routine, the aides became curious when the Deputy Governor did not come out or ask them to do a few things for him.
“When they entered his room, they saw him not responding, they decided to rush him to the Federal Medical Centre in Yola where he was certified dead. The corpse was later deposited in the morgue of the medical centre.”
Sources at the hotel however told The Nation in Yola that the dead body of the late Deputy Governor was discovered when the Adamawa State Deputy Governor, Mr. Martins Babale, went to the hotel to pick his colleague from Borno State. According to the account, after knocking severally on the hotel room without reply, the hotel manager forced the door open only to find the body of Alhaji Zanna Umar Mustapha lifeless on the bed.
When reporters first approached the Adamawa State Deputy Governor for comments, he was in shock and could not respond. Also, Babale’s Press Secretary, Mr. Samuel Gangwaja, declined to confirm the death then, stressing that the National Security Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari will be in the state by 3pm to confirm the medical position of the Deputy Governor of Borno State to Nigeria.
“In spite of the fact that no autopsy was conducted, hospital sources said cardiac arrest might account for the death of the Deputy Governor.
“Members of the entourage had alerted the Adamawa State Government which raised a team to convey the corpse to Maiduguri. The Borno State Government has also made provision for a chartered jet to convey the remains of the Deputy Governor. The Adamawa delegation will be led by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Bindir.”
A statement by the Secretary to Borno State Government, Alhaji Usman Jidda Shuwa, confirmed the passage of the Deputy Governor.
The statement said: “It is with deep sense of utter shock and disbelief but with complete submission to the will of the Almighty Allah that the Borno State Government hereby announces the passing away of His Excellency, Alhaji Zannah Umar Mustapha, the Deputy Governor of Borno State.
“He died in his sleep this morning in Yola, Adamawa State where he was to represent Borno State Government at the convocation ceremony of Modibbo Adama University of Science and Technology, Yola.
“He was also scheduled to follow up on his earlier visit to Yola, in connection with the welfare of Borno State citizens internally displaced as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency.
“His remains would be brought to Maiduguri for funeral at the Government House, Maiduguri at 4pm today, Saturday, 15th August, 2015. He will be buried in Maiduguri.
“His Excellency, Hon. Kashim Shettima, the Executive Governor of Borno State, expresses his heartfelt condolence to the family of the Deputy Governor and the entire people of Borno State for the irreparable loss and appealed for prayers for the repose of the soul of our late Deputy Governor. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace, Amen.”