Governor of Adamawa State, Sen Mohammed Umar Jibrilla, has described the passing away of Mallam Adamu Ciroma, one time governor of Central Bank and founding member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, who died at a Turkish Hospital, on thursday, at the age of 83, as, “sad and a great loss not only to his family and the people of Yobe State, but Nigeria in general.”
In a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Macauley Hunohashi, the Governor noted that, “i recieved the news of the death of our elder statesman Mallam Adamu Ciroma with shock because his demise came at a time when the country was in need of his experience to tackle her challenges”.
Sen Mohammed Umar Jibrilla said the late Mallam Ciroma was an acomplished journalist, nationalist and politician of high standing who craved the attaiment of the highest developmental pedestal for Nigeria.
“as a cabinet Minister in the Shagari administration, Mallam Ciroma played pivotal roles in the implementation of the ptesident’s agenda especially in the areas of food production and working with international agencies to develop the country’s highly rated Agricultural Development Programme-ADP,” the Governor said.
Sen Jibrilla stated that as a demonstration of his capacity and the trust the then president had in him, Mallam Ciroma was appointed chairman of a presidential transition committe with the mandate of restructuring the federal government which was going through a crisis of confidence.
Late Mallam chiroma largely kept out of the public eye after being in the spotlight as a rallying figour in the northern opposition against the 2011 presidential bid of President Goodluck Jonathan.
He will also be remembered as a close confidant of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in the Fourth Republic and minister of finance from 1999 to 2003.
Sen Jibrilla prayed Allah to grant late Mallam Adamu Ciroma Aljanatu Firdausi and courage for those he left behind to bear the irreparable loss.
