Gombe State Deputy governor, Mr. David Miyims Albashi, yesterday died in a German hospital. He was aged 52. As a result of this, the state government has declared seven-days mourning. A statement from the state government, signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abubakar Sule Bage, said Albashi died at Stadtisches Kliniku Karlsruhe Stuttgart Germany early yesterday.

The statement said that Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo has declared a seven-day mourning in the state with effect from yesterday. The statement said the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, observed during the mourning period should be low keyed. It added that the funeral arrangements for the late deputy governor would be announced shortly.

Some people who spoke to Saturday Sun in the state capital said, the former deputy governor would be remembered as a prominent politician and elder statesman. He was and has married with children.

The late David Albashi on August 28 sustained serious injuries in his head when his vehicle collided with another vehicle on Gombe-Yola road, on his way from his village, Cham. His orderly, Corporal Thomas Nifwa, died on the spot. The deputy governor was later flown to Germany for treatment on September 13, 2011, from National Hospital Abuja.
Albashi was born on January 15, 1959 in Tiksir, Kindiyo Cham, in Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State. He attended Zakawon Primary School, in Adamawa State, from 1970-1976 and proceeded to Famous Teachers College, Toro, Bauchi State, from 1977- 1981. He qualified as a teacher and taught in primary school between 1981 and 1987.

The late deputy governor also attended Kaduna Polytechnic, where he obtained NCE and HND in Business Management, in 2006. He also obtained a PGD from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.
Albashi was elected as the first deputy chairman of Balanga Local Government council in 1990 under NRC. He was one-time board member, Bauchi State Investment and Property Development Company from 1993-1997; member of Governing Council, Nnamdi Azikwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State and commissioner for eight years in the ex-governor Danjuma Goje administration.

He was a philanthropist, whose generosity cut across all spheres of life, irrespective of religion, tribe or gender. Even as a devout Christian, he headed a committee on Building Mosques in Cham and when he became deputy governor in the state, he directed the building of a mosque at his office complex.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has commiserated with Governor Dankwambo over the death of Albashi.
In a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, President Jonathan described the death as “shocking,” adding: “I am deeply and personally touched by the sudden loss of this vibrant and young politician.”
The President asked Dankwambo to extend his sincere condolences to Albashi’s family, the government of Gombe State and the entire people of the state.
He prayed that God Almighty would grant eternal repose to the soul of the late deputy governor, and comfort his family.


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