Kebbi Mourns as Assembly Speaker, Muhammad Usman Zuru,Dies in Egypt

​Birnin Kebbi — The Kebbi State Government and the Nigerian legislative community have been plunged into mourning following the death of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Muhammad Usman Zuru.

​The Speaker passed away on Monday night at a hospital in Egypt, where he had been undergoing treatment for a protracted, undisclosed illness. His death was confirmed by high-ranking state officials and his media team on Tuesday morning.

​Representing the Zuru Constituency, the late Speaker was widely regarded as a stabilizing force within the state’s political landscape. His tenure was marked by a commitment to legislative harmony and a close working relationship with the executive arm to drive developmental projects across the state.

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​A “Rude Shock” to the State

​Reacting to the development, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication and Strategy, Idris Zuru, described the loss as a monumental blow to the “Land of Equity.”

​”The death of Rt. Hon. Muhammad Usman Zuru came to us as a rude shock. It is a painful loss not only to Kebbi State but to the entire nation,” he stated. “We are currently in communication with the family and the Egyptian medical team to facilitate the repatriation of his remains.”

​Legacy of Service

​Before his ascent to the Speakership, Usman Zuru was known as a seasoned administrator and a grass-roots politician. Tributes have begun pouring in from colleagues across the 36 states, with many describing him as a “legislator’s legislator” who prioritized the needs of his constituents in the Zuru Emirate.

​While the specific nature of his ailment remained private during his stay abroad, sources indicate he had been out of the country for several weeks. The Kebbi State Government is expected to declare a period of mourning, with an official statement regarding the burial arrangements—to be conducted in accordance with Islamic rites—forthcoming.