The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, is dead.
He died in Abuja after early morning prayers, on Tuesday.
His closest friend and political associate, the former National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Peter Ameh, confirmed the death to our correspondent on the telephone.
He said, “I’ve lost a friend of several decades. He was not sick, he even joined the early morning prayers this morning. This is a great loss not only to opposition political parties but to Nigerian democracy as a whole. His progressive ideas will be surely missed.”
Also, the Coalition of United Political Parties has expressed shock over the news of the late politician’s demise.
This was contained in a statement titled, “CUPP Mourns Labour Party National Chairman”, signed by the Coalition’s Co-Spokesperson, Mark Adebayo.
The statement read in part, “We received the sudden death of Alhaji A. A. Salam with utter shock and total disbelief. A. A. Salam was a major pillar and voice who formed the CUPP and remained committed to its ideals until he breathed his last.
“A very accommodating, intelligent, experienced, generous and patriotic leader, A. A. Salam was a true democrat and a fighter for justice. He was a father to all and always focused on anything he believed was right and just.
“He was always available whenever his leadership and experience were needed and never shirked any responsibility he was assigned to.
“Alhaji Salam was a man with a good spirit, caring, loving and always positive. His doors were always open to all irrespective of different political persuasions. We have lost a giant in the political space of Nigeria.”
