NCFront: Obadiah Mailafia’s Death Unbelievable, Will Be Investigated

National Leaders of Conscience under the auspices of the National Consultative Front has described the death of a former Deputy Governor of Central Bank, Dr Obadiah Mailafia, as “unbelievable”.

The group made this known in a statement titled, ‘Mailafia: The Exit of A Titan …Leaders of Conscience, NCFront, Mourn the Passing of Obadiah Mailafia, To investigate his death’.

In the statement issued by Amb (Ms) Rukaiya Muhammad on behalf of the NCFront National Secretariat, the leaders also promised to investigate the social critic’s death.

The statement read, “NCFront, an emergent political movement of a group of eminent leaders of thought working towards the emergence of a new Nigeria that works for all by 2023 wish to express deep shock and sadness over the passing of our associate and founding member of the Front, Dr Obadiah Mailafia, former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC in the 2019 general elections in Nigeria

“It will be recalled that Mailafia until his unbelievable demise today was a member of the National Steering Council and the North Central Facilitator of the NCFront, who raised the bar of commitment to the tasks of the movement, constantly advocating a fair, just and equitable governance of Nigeria therefore becoming a Frontline member of the National Constitutional Dialogue Committee initiated by the movement to stem the heightening constitutional crisis and political agitations and insecurity traceable to the inherent flaws and pit falls of the Nigerian Constitution foisted on the country by the Nigerian military at the outset of current troubled democracy in 1999

“In a demonstration of his huge commitment to the movement, Obadiah Mailafia last week gave positive feedback to the National Secretariat of the NCFront on a tactical task given to him by the movement towards ensuring cohesion and stability in the North Central and Middle Belt region ahead of the people’s constitutional dialogue in the region, showing no sign of illness.

“Memories of his various endeavors and contributions will be remembered and honoured by the NCFront during the 2nd National Rescue Summit being planned by the NCFront to commemorate Nigeria’s 61st Independence Anniversary on 1st October, 2021.

“The movement, however, wishes to condole and commiserate with the family of its departed Leader, Obadiah Mailafia, praying for the repose of his soul and fortitude and strength for members of his family and promising investigation into his sudden death.”

Mailafia passed on at the age of 64.

Mailafia, who was a columnist with The PUNCH was said to have died at midnight after a brief illness.

The former deputy governor, who was the Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the 2019 election, was a known government critic and had advocated for public sector and exchange rate reforms.