The candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the Edo September 19 Governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has expressed shock and grief over the demise of Zakawanu Garba, a former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly.

In a personal condolence message released by Mr. John Mayaki, the Chairman of the State Media Campaign Council of the APC, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu mourned Zakawanu’s death as a “personal loss” which left him in shock and sober mien.

He said: “The death of Zakawanu Garuba, a former Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, has left me in shock and a deep sober mien.”

“Zakawanu Garuba was a great friend and dependable ally of many years. I am intimately and especially sad at his demise because we have lost a great asset. All of us, across ideologies and parties, as Edo people, has had an illustrious torch of brilliance and uprightness snuffed out by the cozy wind of death.”

“The sad news is made more tragic for me given the fact that I have looked forward, upon our victorious emergence at the polls, to seek the experienced hands of Zakawanu Garuba in the progressive mission of moving Edo State forward.”

“I have lost a friend; Edo State has lost an achieving son. We all should be sad but remain encouraged to, like Zakawanu Garuba, stand up for the ideals of truth, development, and democratic leadership, living our best lives in accordance with the principles we believe in while we still have life in us. This way, we will be remembered by our great works like we today remember my friend and our leader, Zakawanu Garuba.”

“My prayer is that Allah grants him Jannah, and his family, the fortitude to bear this heart-wrenching loss”.