Speakership aspirant gives late Taraba member-elect’s son scholarship

One of the leading aspirants for the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the coming 10th National Assembly, Aliyu Betara, has offered to sponsor the education of a son to a member-elect, Ismaila Maihanci, who died recently.

Betara, according to a statement issued by his campaign office in Abuja on Monday, paid a condolence visit to the Maihanci family in Jalingo, capital of Taraba State, in company with “about 60 colleagues.”

Maihanci, 37, died on April 22 after a brief illness, about two months after winning the election for the seat of Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency in Taraba State at the House, and less than two months to the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly.

According to the statement titled ‘Late Maihanci: Speakership Aspirant, Betara Places Deceased’s Son on Scholarship…As 60 Members-Elect Join Condolence Entourage,’ Maihanci left behind a child, an expectant wife and aged parents.

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The statement said, “out of deep compassion, Betara placed the deceased’s son on scholarship as a way of lessening the family’s burden.”

It quoted Betara, who is Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations and is representing Biu/Bayo/Shani/Kwaya Kusar Federal Constituency in Borno State, to have expressed grief over the death, describing the late member-elect as “a brother and friend.”

He said, “I want to sincerely appreciate the over 60 honourable members of the House of Representatives who took out time and accompanied me, despite their busy schedule.

“I was indeed touched by their depth of sacrifices and show of love, as we had to fly through Yola and took a voyage of about nine hours to Taraba State, while it was raining cats and dogs in some axes as we travelled.

“During my condolence message as we visited the wife of the late member-elect and his biological parents, I promised them that his son shall be placed on scholarship from primary education to any level he desires to attain henceforth.”