VP Shettima, Lawan, Zulum, Buni attend funeral of Borno’s former SSG in Maiduguri … Our loss is huge, say Shettima, Zulum Vice President Kashim Shettina, Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, led dignitaries to the funeral of Alhaji Usman Jidda Shuwa, immediate past Secretary to Borno State Government. The funeral held on Sunday afternoon in Maiduguri. Shuwa died on Saturday at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital after a brief illness. The funeral prayer was led by the Chief Imam of Borno, Imam Laisu Ibrahim Ahmed, after which Shuwa was laid to rest at Gwange cemetery. The Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Umar Ibn Garbai Al-Amin Elkanemi, led traditional rulers to the funeral. Former Governors of Borno and Kebbi states, Maina Ma’aji Lawan and Atiku Abubakar Bagudu, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, Ambassador Baba Ahmed Jidda and Senator-elect, Barrister Kaka Shehu Lawan, were also in attendance. There were numerous other top government officials, serving and former at the funeral. Speaking to newsmen, Vice President Kashim Shettima, expressed shock at the death of the former SSG, describing him as one of the last icons. “We lost a colossus, he was the last of the titans and an icon with a huge institutional memory of how the system works. We are surely going to miss his wise counsel and intellect. No one is indispensable in life but he was almost irreplaceable”, Shettima said. On his part, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum described Shuwa’s death as a big loss for Borno, his family and Nigeria at large. “The death of Usman Jidda Shuwa is a great loss to all of us in Borno. For the past couple of years, he has served the state diligently and his wealth of experience will be missed by all of us”, Zulum said. Alhaji Usman Jidda Shuwa died at the age of 65 leaving behind two wives, children and many relatives. Shuwa served as SSG from 2015 to 2019 under then Governor Kashim Shettima and from 2019 to 2023 under Governor Zulum.