ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Ghali Umar Na’Abba, the 4th speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, passed away at the age of 65 at the National Hospital in Abuja around 3 am on Wednesday.
Born on September 27, 1958, in Tudun Wada, Kano state, Na’Abba served as the speaker from 1999 to 2003 under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP).
He earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1979, and later completed a postgraduate program on Leadership and Good Governance at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, in 2004.
READ ALSO: Tension Grips Supreme Court As Retiring Justice Alleges Abuse of Power By CJN
Despite his contributions, Na’Abba faced a political setback in 2003 when he lost his re-election bid after a falling out with the presidency. Notably, during his tenure as speaker, he often clashed with then-President Olusegun Obasanjo.
In 2014, Na’Abba defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and continued to be an influential political and public commentator until his passing.