I am in agony of conscience and devastated by the passing on of the HON BITRUS RIMAMNDE NUHU, the quintessential Youth torchbearer in politics who blazed a progressive trail in politics and fired the imagination of all YOUTH in Taraba, The Middle Belt and Nigeria to the possibility of a Youth leadership Rennaissance in Nigeria, Africa and the Black Diaspora! His specie is rare and comes once in a generation.

Our paths crossed in politics in 1999, when he was a federal government staff with the NITEL and my humbleself the protem National Publicity Secretary of the Alliance For Democracy AD as well as the Gen Sec of the Northern Caucus. His accelerated political evolution was a marvel to all who engaged the esteemed sublime presence of this most vital of men.

Before he formally voluntarily retired from the services of the Federal Government , BITRUS RIMAMNDE SIMAN NUHU, the best Governor that Taraba state never had cultivated all the cross sectoral peoples' formations in the Alliance For Democracy AD political spectrum from the Late Uncle Bola Ige, Late Gov Adebayo Adefarati, Alhaji Ganiyu Dawodu, The Jagaban Distinguished Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Michael Odurinde and of course then National Chairman Alhaji Ahmed Abdulkadir.

The then foremost ideological formation in the polity treated his 2003 gubernatorial ambition as feasible and realisable including then Governor of Taraba state Revd Jolly Nyame who hosted us severally.

That BITRUS RIMAMNDE NUHU was a fast rising star in the political firmament of Taraba state is impatient of debate. He was audacious, innovative, generous and basically a bridge builder and was endowed as it were with a commodious inclusive governance philosophy which essentially transcended stereotypes.

The gravitas of His Excellency BITRUS RIMAMNDE NUHU was such that the entirety of the members of the National Executive Committee and National Working Committee of the Party comprising Elders, Party Leaders, Governors, Senators and Members of the House of Representatives took him seriously.

Together with the late Uncle Hassan, His late totemic Daddy Pa Nuhu , late Alhaji Hassan Maidoya Gassol et al, we traversed all the nooks and crannies of Taraba from Pupule, Pantisawa, Yoro, Zing, Bete, Fete, Mbamnga, Ngoroje, Baissa, Maisamari, Wukari, Ibi, Jenuwa Gida, Jenuwa Kogi etc whilst intercalating with other resourceful political factors like the late HE Rev Father Moses Adasu, Dr Bala Takaya, Comrade Paschal Bafyau, Professor Ibrahim James,HE Alh Abubakar Barde, Dist Sen PASTOR Luka Zayang Zing etc.

The death at such a relatively young age is a great sorbering loss to the Kuteb Nation, the Middle Belt, the North and Nigeria. He shall be sorely missed. May God grant his supportive and amiable wife, fantastic kids and comrades the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

On a personal note, I have lost a brother, a friend and a political soulmate and in-law. After his Senatorial aspiration in Southern Taraba, we regrouped again and visited some leading political lights in the nation.

Together with Ini Morgan, we were received formally by the APC national director of administration Alh Abubakar Suleiman and the National Secretary. The portents were good but ADONAI Knows best! "

Therefore BITRUS RIMAMNDE NUHU hast returned and come with singing unto Zion and everlasting joy it shall be upon his head for he hast obtained gladness and Joy and sorrow and mourning have permanently fled away from him" Adieu worthy laborer and fighter for noble progressive causes,

Rest in Peace in Jesus Christ Bosom till we meet on Resurrection Morning to part no more!

Barucabah Shem ADONAI YESHUA HAMASHIAC, SHALLOM SHALLOM SHALLOM -

Rt Revd Dr Manzo Abubakar
Former National Secretary of the Alliance For Democracy AD