HURIWA reacts to the death of Ibrahim Mantu

Senator Ibrahim Mantu was described as an elder statesman, erudite politician, and friend of journalism and journalists by the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA.

HURIWA recalled the former Deputy Senate President’s significant contributions to the socio-political development of Plateau State and the nation at large, emphasizing that the former federal lawmaker’s sudden death is a great loss to his state and Nigeria as a whole.

According to HURIWA, late Senator Mantu was a grassroots politician whose life was all about the people’s interests, as he did everything in his power to serve them through empowerment and quality representation.

Mantu earned his place in Nigerian politics through active participation, according to the human rights organization, and he also had a strong bond with the youth, whom he mentored not only in politics but also in other fields, particularly humanitarian service.

“Until his death, the deceased made his resources, a wealth of experience and knowledge, available to the practice of journalism in general. We Journalists will miss the late Deputy Senate’s voice of peace and unity, as well as an advocate for social cohesion and tolerance, which he represented particularly during the country’s most trying moments,” HURIWA said.

“One of the things that struck me about the late Senator was his non-tribal approach to national issues. He was a Muslim, but no one would know because he accommodated everyone; he was friends with the Igbos and generous to all.

“Mantu was welcoming to all, and during his early years in Gindiri, he played a role in bringing people together. He considered the greater good. He was a charismatic politician, and other northern leaders should emulate his qualities while he was still alive.

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Mantu was a member of the People’s Democratic Party’s Board of Trustees before his death (PDP). He held a variety of political positions, including Director-General of the defunct National Republican Convention during the 1993 presidential campaign; National Chairman of the defunct Peoples Democratic Alliance; and National Publicity Secretary of the defunct United Nigeria Congress Party.

”In 1999, he was elected Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the Plateau Central Constituency on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform, and in 2000, he was named Deputy Senate President.

”In his autobiography, released in 2020, former Abia governor Orji Kalu said Mantu was the true hero in the efforts to stop ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s third-term agenda in 2006. This was an example of true representation that was not influenced by political affiliations.