Dignitaries from within and outside Niger State on Wednesday gathered at the Airforce protestant church, 013 response base, Minna, the Niger State to their last respect to late Navy Commander Joseph Haruna Duza, member representing Munya Constituency in the state house of assembly.
The late retired Airforce officer who was the Chairman standing committee on security and intelligent in the state assembly died on Thursday at a private hospital in Minna after a brief illness at the age of 61.
As early as 8:00am dignitaries had gathered at the Nigerian Airforce base situated Maikunkele, a suburb of Minna for the funeral service which eventually began at 11:am.
The Niger State Deputy Governor Comrade Yakubu Garba led members of the state executive council which includes commissioners, special advisers, directors general, senior special assistants political parties executives and other top political appointees.
The state assembly was led by the speaker, RT Hon Abdulmalik Sarkindaji with all the members in attendance at the funeral service.
Former assembly members were not left out as they all came to pay their last respect to the late member whom the speaker described as a true Nigerian who was passionate about the well-being of his Constituency and the state in general.
“We will missed late honorable Joseph Haruna Duza who offered himself to the service of the people of his Constituency and the state in general.
“He will be remembered for his robust and unbiased contributions to state matter on the floor of the house during plenary. We will forever missed him”, the speaker said.
The deputy governor who led the state government delegation, extolled the virtue of the late member, saying that despite his political differences as a People Democratic party (PDP) member in the house, he remained committed and supportive to the renewed hope agenda of the present administration in the state.
He pointed out that the late member has demonstrated that he was a true representative of the people with his commitment towards the peace and security of his Constituency that has been bedevilled with bandits activities.
“I want to say that the late lawmaker will be missed not only by his immediate family and his Constituency but the entire state. His short stay in the house was remarkable in the lives of his Constituency.
“He used his military background and experience to offer help in the area of insecurity to his people and the state in general. His immense contributions to the peace and development of his Constituency will surely be missed”, he added.
In his sermon at funeral service, the officiating priest Rev. Joseph C. Yakubu reminded politicians that sacrifice for humanity Should be their watch-ward we will all die empty no matter the accumulation of wealth.
“No matter how long you lived, the end will surely come because there is time to be born and the time to die. The question is that how do we live our life here on earth because there is purpose for every human existence”.
He appealed to politicians that they can only be remembered for the positive legacy they left behind and therefore impart positively on the lives of the people, adding that “only your legacy on earth that will speak for you when you gone”.
The body of the late commander Joseph Haruna was later taken to his hometown, Chibani in Munya local government where was laid to rest according to military tradition amidst tight security.