Abuja — Senate President, Senator David Mark, his predecessors, Anyim Pius Anyim, Adolphus Wabara, and scores of senators were in Potiskum, Yobe State, weekend to pay tributes to their former colleague and immediate past governor of the state, Senator Mamman Ali.

A statement issued in Abuja yesterday by the Chief Press Secretary to Mark, Mr. Paul Mumeh, said Mark and his colleagues took turns at the Emir of Potiskum's palace to eulogise the late Ali after his interment.

It said they all described him as "a fine parliamentarian, a go-getter and an irrepressible politician."

Mark, according to the statement, regretted that Ali's twin advantage as a legislator and an executive governor had been lost.

He stated that the combination of both experiences had put Ali in a better stead to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

The Senate President said, "The late Ali had his political root in the legislature. He moved to the executive arm of government. Such experiences are immeasurable and I know he would have deployed the same positively for the good of the people."

He urged the people to take solace in the fact that the late Ali lived an exemplary life worthy of emulation, adding "Ali's death should remind all of us that death is a necessary end that must come when it shall; therefore, whatever good or services we can do for our fellow men, we must do."

In his comment, Senate Chief Whip, Senator Kanti Bello, noted that Ali would be missed because, he was a rare politician, who believed in the sanctity of service to the people.

The Governor of Yobe State, Alhaji Ibrahim Giedam thanked Nigerians for the solidarity since the death of his predecessor and promised that all the policies and programmes of the late Ali would be completed.

The Emir of Potiskum, Alhaji Umaru Bubaran Ibn Wuriwa Bawiya prayed that the Almighty grant the late Ali eternal rest.