MPs Mourn Colleague

Alhaji Saani Iddi

MEMBERS OF Ghana's Parliament (MP), under the leadership of Speaker Justice Joyce Bamford-Addo, yesterday mourned their colleague, the late Alhaji Saani Iddi with ample eulogies.

Alhaji Iddi, an independent MP for Wulensi Constituency in the Northern region, died at 56 at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital late Monday night after months of serious battle with complicated ailments.

The late MP, who left behind seven children, was laid to rest on Wednesday in line with the tenets of the Islamic religion.

Members of the country's lawmaking body described their departed colleague as a man of humility who appealed to both sides of the House.

MP for Bimbilla, Dominic Nitiwul, in a sorrowful mood, described Alhaji Iddi as a man with exemplary conduct who was an inspiration to many young politicians.

'He was an inspiration to us in our political career and we would forever miss him', Nitiwul grieved, expressing his condolences to the family of his departed senior colleague.

First Deputy Speaker Edward Doe Adjaho saw Alhaji Iddi as 'an affable man, a man of great conviction and indeed a consensus builder'.

Adjaho, who is also the Chairman of the Appointments Committee of Parliament and MP for Avenor/Ave, praised the late MP for being a committed member of the committee.

'He was a man of few words but approached every issue with passion. His death is a big blow to the Appointments Committee, the Honourable House, his constituency and indeed to mother Ghana', the First Deputy Speaker mourned.

Making a tribute to Alhaji Iddi, the Majority Leader, Cletus Avoka, remarked, 'Our colleague was without doubt, a humble and quiet person. He showed respect to everybody irrespective of that person's position. He remained loyal and faithfully to the cause of this House and his constituency. He was indeed affable.'

'I wish to extend our condolences to the family and that this…House, would support the family in giving our colleague, brother and friend a befitting farewell', the Majority Leader added.

Minority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu described the late MP as humble and an unassuming personality.

'Alhaji Iddi was a peace broker; he made peace and kept peace. For all who saw him, he was a man of peace.

'On this occasion we mourn with his family and constituency. May his soul rest in perfect peace', the Minority Leader, who is also the MP for Suame, remarked.

MP for Okere, Dan Botwe, recounted the political history of Alhaji Iddi, eulogizing the peace-maker whose invaluable contribution led to the New Patriotic Party's electoral victory in the Bimbilla by-election in 2001.

He said as a District Chief Executive (DCE) for the then Nanumba District, Alhaji Iddi helped in brokering peace between the Kokombas and Nanumbas in the Northern Region.

'He had been a peace-maker by bringing Kokombas and Nanumbas together', Dan Botwe observed, adding that the House and particularly the NPP should continue to remember Alhaji Iddi for his all-embracing demeanour and as a man who helped to curb tribal conflicts in the north.

The late Alhaji Iddi was the NPP MP for Wulensi from 1997 to 2001, during which he served his people with distinction.

After losing his seat, he was appointed by President John Agyekum Kufuor as the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the Nanumba District from 2001-2005.

Alhaji Iddi became self-employed after 2005 but bounced back in 2008 to contest the Wulensi seat as an independent candidate.

He was appointed by President Atta Mills as the Deputy Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, an office he occupied for just a year as he was dropped in a cabinet reshuffle.

 By Awudu Mahama