Isaiah Balat for burial next Thursday

Senator Isaiah Balat, the former Presidential Adviser on Special Duties in the office of the Vice President who died Tuesday will be laid to rest next week Thursday, the burial committee announced yesterday.

A statement from the committee signed by the immediate past Commissioner for Water resources, Kaduna State, Dr John Ayuba, said Balat would be buried in his family house in Gora Bafai in Zango Kataf LGA at about 10am on February 27, 2014. Other members of the committee include Chief Elias Gora, Mr Silas P. Ayuba- Secretary, Barr Zakari Sogfa, Kaduna State Information Commissioner, Mr Ben Bako, Mrs Hannatu Suleiman, Zangon Kataf LGA chairman, Hon Christopher Haruna, Former member of the House of representatives, Hon Jonathan Asake, Mr Yusuf Balat and Mr Musa Kanwai.

In a related development, the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) yesterday paid tribute to Senator Isaiah Balat, saying Nigeria has lost one of its finest politicians. Chairman of the forum and Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, said the late Balat was a true nationalist who lived a life of dedication to the cause of Nigeria’s unity and development. The Nigerian Senators Forum also described the death as shocking. Secretary of the forum, Senator Abubakar Girei in a statement described Balat as a humble man who died when his wealth of experience was most needed.