One assembly, 2 deaths: Story of Kano’s late lawmakers

The Kano State House of Assembly was thrown into mourning on Wednesday after two of its members died within hours, a tragedy that has plunged the state’s political class and citizens into grief.

The deceased are Aminu Sa’ad Ungogo, who represented Ungogo constituency and Sarki Aliyu Daneji, who represented Kano Municipal constituency. Both were members of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), the ruling party in Kano.

Ungogo was the first to pass away on Wednesday afternoon; barely an hour later, news filtered in that Daneji had also died, compounding the shock and sorrow that enveloped the Assembly and the state.

Reports indicated that Ungogo had attended plenary earlier in the day. As chairman of the Appropriation Committee, he also presided over his committee’s meeting, with the Assembly scheduled to pass the state’s 2026 budget on Monday.

Sources at the Assembly said he collapsed after performing ablution on his way to the mosque for prayers. He was rushed to the Assembly clinic but was confirmed dead shortly after arrival.

Daneji, on the other hand, had been partially sick but continued with his official engagements. He chaired the House Committee on Hajj Pilgrims and was said to have been battling leg pain, stress and the effects of old age.

Muhammad Urwatu, an aide and neighbour to the late Kano Municipal member explained: “He was taken to hospital here in Kano on Tuesday, a day before his death. Even on the day he died, his family spoke to him. He was feeling a bit better before he later gave up the ghost.”

Ungogo’s funeral and burial were observed in his hometown of Ungogo late Wednesday evening while Daneji’s funeral was held Thursday morning at the Kano Emir’s palace, Kofar Kudu, before his burial at Dandolo cemetery.

Both funerals drew large crowds, including Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, his deputy, Aminu Abdussalam, former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Speaker Jibrin Isma’il Falgore, members of the Assembly and top government officials.

Profiles of the deceased

Aminu Sa’ad Ungogo was a seasoned local administrator. He served in various capacities, such as chief personnel officer (CPO), director of personnel management (DPM), and sole administrator before venturing into politics.

He joined the Assembly in 2019 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kwankwaso, and returned in 2023 under the NNPP for a second term.

Sarki Aliyu Daneji retired from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) as state commandant in Katsina before joining active politics.

He won his Assembly seat in 2023 as a first-term lawmaker under the NNPP.

Lawmakers speak about late colleagues

The Speaker of the Assembly, Jibrin Ismail Falgore, expressed deep sorrow: “Their virtues will remain indelibly etched in the history of the Kano State House of Assembly and in the hearts of the people they served.

“From the onset of their legislative careers, both men distinguished themselves through commitment, sound judgement and an impressive grasp of leadership and management.”

He stressed that their absence would be deeply felt within the Assembly, across the state and beyond.

Usman Tasi’u Abubakar, representing Kiru constituency, described the late lawmakers as mentors. He said, “I saw Ungogo as my compass who guided me in our lawmaking work. On the other hand, I and Daneji were the last set of people to leave the House on Monday. We were there till 9:30pm.

“Daneji had lately been complaining that he was not feeling fine, but that did not stop him from his works. Ungogo was hale and hearty. Even last week, he stood for one and a half hours to present the 2026 appropriation documents. They are such a big loss, not just to the House but the state.”

Ibrahim Muhammad Rano, the chairman of the House Finance Committee, recounted the moments leading to Ungogo’s collapse thus: “We were together after attending a joint committee session on finance and appropriations. He spent more than one and a half hours admonishing the finance people to do the right thing. After the meeting, he said we should go out and pray. He was very religious. Immediately after completing ablution, he collapsed.”

He added that Ungogo was the brain behind 80 per cent of the Assembly’s budget work, while Daneji was equally committed, serving people until his last day.

Kamaluddeen Sani Shawai, the spokesperson of the Assembly, also said that Ungogo collapsed after chairing his committee’s meeting.

“Since the governor presented the 2026 budget, the House has been on recess, but committees, especially on appropriations, which he chaired, have been very active. Even on the day of his death, he spent hours attending the committee’s meeting. Immediately after that, he collapsed after performing ablution for prayers.”

He noted that as they were rushing to take Ungogo’s corpse home, news of Daneji’s death broke, plunging the Assembly into deeper grief.

“They left such a big vacuum that will be difficult to fill,” Shawai added.

Governor Yusuf, Barau, Kwankwaso mourn

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf joined thousands of mourners to pay final respects. He described the late lawmakers as dedicated and selfless representatives who served their constituencies and Kano State with commitment and integrity.

He extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased, the leadership of the Kano State House of Assembly and the good people of Kano State, particularly the people of their respective constituencies, praying that Allah forgives their shortcomings and grant them Aljannatul Firdaus.

Former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, said that both men were unwaveringly loyal to the state government and the movement.

“May the Almighty Allah forgive their shortcomings, accept their good deeds and grant them Aljannatul Firdaus,” Kwankwaso prayed.

Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin also condoled the families, constituents and the Kano State Government, praying for the repose of their souls.

By-elections will be required to fill the vacant seats in Ungogo and Kano Municipal constituencies, but beyond electoral arithmetic, the human void left by the two lawmakers is profound. For colleagues, aides and constituents, the deaths are deeply personal.

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