Famous Nigerians Who Died In 2015.

While the year 2015 marked the beginning of a new era for some Nigerian politicians with victory during the various elections that took place this year, sadly, it also marked the end of the political journeys and lives of some eminent politicians in the country. Among eminent Nigerians who passed on in 2015 were; Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo, the matriarch of Awolowo family and wife of the late sage and Premier of Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo; the first executive governors of Kogi and Bayelsa states, Prince Abubakar Audu and Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha; former deputy governor of Borno State, Alhaji Zannah Mustapha; former Nigerian Ambassador to United States, Prof. Adebowale Adefuye; and Senator Ahmed Zanna, who represented Borno North Senatorial District in Seventh Assembly.

Nigeria also lost some eminent traditional rulers, among who were the Ooni of Ife, His Royal Majesty Sijuade Okunade; the Emir of Gusau, Alhaji Muhammad Kabir Danbaba; the Tor Tiv, Alfred Akawe Torkula; the Emir of Borgu, Senator Haliru Dantoro Kitoro and the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II.

Awolowo’s matriarch passed on two months to centenary birthday

One the major deaths in 2015 was that of Chief HID Awolowo, on Saturday September 19 at the age of 99, just about two months before her centenary birthday. She was reported to have been a part of the meeting for the planning of her 100th birthday before she gave up the ghost.

The death of HID, who her husband once described as ‘jewel of inestimable value’ shook the country as eminent Nigerians, elder statesman, politicians, traditional rulers, business tycoons, Afenifere chieftains and others trooped to Awolowo’s country home in Ikenne, Ogun State to commensurate with the family.

The demise of the Awolowo’s matriarch was well celebrated as her family organised 11-day funeral programmes to bid her farewell. Her remains was taken to Lagos and Ibadan for commendation services before it was laid to rest on November 25 in a gold casket after a colourful funeral services at Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Ikenne-Remo. The remains of the late matriarch were later laid to rest beside her late husband inside the Awolowo Mausoleum.

Audu couldn’t wait to celebrate victory

One of the shocking deaths in year 2015 is death of All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the November 21 Kogi State governorship election, Prince Abubakar Audu. He died on November 22 after he allegedly suffered a massive stroke. He was leading comfortably with over 40,000 votes before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the election inconclusive.

Audu was governor of Kogi state from January 1992 to November 1993 and later governed the state from May 29, 1999 to May 29, 2003. After leaving office in 2003, Audu tried to return to government house on three occasions but death cut short his dream on November 22 at the age of 68.

Alamieyeseigha: Ijaw Governor- General bows out

Former Bayelsa State governor, Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter (DSP) Alamieyeseigha, who many people regard to as Governor- General of Ijaw nation, died on Saturday October 10 at the University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State. He was reported to have died of complications arising from high blood pressure and diabetes which affected his kidney, after been in coma at the hospital for days. Alamieyeseigha, who was governor of Bayelsa State from May 29, 1999 to December 9, 2005 before he was impeached by the Bayelsa State House of Assembly over corruption related issue, was 63 when he died.

Borno deputy dies on state assignment

The people of Borno State lost their deputy governor, Alhaji Zannah Mustapha on Saturday August 15. The deputy governor died while on state assignment in Adamawa State. According to a statement by the Secretary to the Borno State Government, Usman Jidda Shuwa, the deputy governor died in his sleep while visiting Yola, the Adamawa State capital, to attend the convocation ceremony of Modibbo Adama University of Science and Technology.

Senator Zanna died before swearing-in

Senator Zanna, who was representing Borno North Senatorial District before his death, won the March 28 senatorial election convincingly to be re-elected on the platform of APC but death dealt a big blow on him as he couldn’t wait to be part of the present Eight Senate. Senator Zanna died in Abuja on Saturday, May 16 at 60 years old. It was reported that the senator, who had been battling with undisclosed illness that caused him partial paralysis, had returned to Abuja a day before his death after a medical trip to the United States of America.

Adefuye dies on foreign mission

The Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Prof. Adebowale Adefuye died of heart attack on August 27 in Washington DC. He was said to have suffered a seizure while in his car and reportedly died before he could get medical attention. Adefuye was one of the refined historian and diplomat that Nigeria has produced.

From 1987 till his death, he was Nigeria ambassador to many countries, which include Jamaica, Belize, Haiti and United States. He was also a former Nigerian Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Deputy Director of the Commonwealth of Nations and an advisor to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Ex-education ministers passed on

Two former Ministers of Education, Dr. Olaiya Oni and Igwe Aja-Nwachukwu also gave up the ghost in 2015. Oni, who served as Minister of Education during General Abudusalam Abubakar regime died on October 18 at age 74 after being hospitalised at an undisclosed hospital in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

He was a pioneer Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) in Ondo State. Aja-Nwachukwu, who hailed from Ebonyi State, served as education minister during the tenure of late President Umaru Yar’Adua. According to a family source, he passed away at age 63 year on November 17 while undergoing treatment in an Israeli hospital.

Taraba loses former deputy governor

The people of Taraba lost the state former deputy governor, Senator Saleh Usman Danboyi to death on April 3. Danboyi, who until his death was the Director General of Darius Ishaku/ Haruna Manu Gubernatorial Campaign Organisation, was reported to have slumped and died in his house located few meters to the Government House in Jalingo. Danboyi, who died at age 59 was deputy governor of Taraba state from 1999 to 2003.

Traditional rulers join ancestors

In year 2015, Nigeria also lost a number of eminent royal fathers to the cold hands of death. About five first class traditional rulers joined their ancestors this year. The Emir of Gusau in Zamfara State, Alhaji Muhammad Kabir Danbaba, died on March 5 at the Nigeria Turkish Nizamiye Hospital in Abuja after a protracted illness.

He died at age 91 after over 30 years of leadership. The city of Ile-Ife in Osun State was thrown into mourning on July 28 following the news of the death of the Ooni of Ife, His Royal Majesty Oba Okunade Sijuwade. The revered king died in the United Kingdom on July 28 at the age of 85 after 35 years reign.

The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II also joined his ancestors on September 5, while the Emir of Borgu, Senator Haliru Dantoro Kitoro III and the Tor Tiv, Alfred Akawe Torkula, died on Friday October 30 and Monday November 23, respectively.