The political landscape of Nasarawa State and Nigeria is in mourning following the death of Senator Godiya Akwashiki, a loss described as the departure of a true patriot and one of the nation’s most effective legislators.
In a heartfelt condolence visit on Saturday in Lafia, the Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Dr. Danladi Jatau, expressed profound grief over the senator’s passing. Jatau framed the loss not merely as a personal tragedy for the family but as a significant blow to the fabric of the state and the country. “The country and State has lost a patriotic citizen and one of the best performing senators,” Jatau stated, highlighting the dual nature of Akwashiki’s legacy: unwavering national loyalty coupled with a record of tangible legislative achievement.
The speaker’s remarks went beyond formal condolences, touching on a deeper vein of communal sorrow. He contextualized Akwashiki’s death within a painful pattern for the Eggon Nation, a major ethnic group in Nasarawa State. “We pray God to end this death in Eggon Nation and the society in general. Sen. Solomon Ewuga has gone and now Sen. Godiya Akwashiki has gone among others,” Jatau lamented. This reference to the late Senator Solomon Ewuga, another esteemed Eggon elder statesman, underscores a concerning trend of losing seasoned political anchors from the region, potentially creating a vacuum in experienced leadership and representation.
Jatau specifically praised Akwashiki’s dedication to his constituents, noting his “contributions to the development of Nasarawa North, the State and the Country at large” and that he “did his best towards touching on the lives of the people of his Senatorial district.” While the statement did not list specific projects, such praise from a fellow high-ranking state official suggests a legacy of focused constituency service and national lawmaking—a combination that defines an effective senator in Nigeria’s federal system.
In response, Mrs. Hajaratu Akwashiki, the senator’s elder sister, received the delegation. She expressed the family’s appreciation for the speaker’s solidarity during their “trial moment,” affirming that her brother “lived a fulfilled and accomplished life while on earth.” This exchange illustrates the important cultural and political ritual of condolence visits in Nigeria, where public figures personally offer sympathy, reinforcing social bonds and acknowledging the deceased’s public stature.
Senator Godiya Akwashiki, who represented Nasarawa North Senatorial District, died on December 30 in an Indian hospital after a protracted illness, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). His passing marks the end of a chapter for Nasarawa politics, removing a figure widely recognized as a patriot and a performer. As the state and the Eggon Nation grapple with this “irreparable loss,” the challenge will be to preserve the standards of service and dedication he was credited with embodying.
Edited by Joseph Edeh
