Tears flew freely yesterday as relations and friends of the late Senator Gyang Dalyop Dantong (Plateau North) as well as government officials from Plateau State accompanied his corpse to the National Assembly Complex for the valedictory session in his honour.
Dantong died recently during another round of violence in Plateau State. At the session were Dantong's father, wife, children and other relations as well as Governor Jonah Jang, former Deputy Senate President Ibrahim Mantu, among others.
Extolling Dantong's virtues, Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba (PDP, Cross River Central), said Dantong excelled in all areas of his duties as a Senator.
Senate President David Mark, who was also near to tears, read his eulogy titled "The Passing of the People's Hero."
Mark said: "Today, we say goodbye to Senator Gyang Dalyop Dantong. Many of Dantong's friends and relatives are here. Even in death, he continues to be a uniting factor and a shining example of model leadership. As a husband, father, senator, medical doctor and Chairman Senate Committee on Health, he distinguished himself.
Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwa, represented by his deputy, Deputy Senate Leader Abdul Ningi, Senators Ahmed Lawan, Gbenga Kaka, Zainab Kure, Ifeanyi Okonwa and George Thomson Sekibo also paid tributes to their departed colleague.
The Senate also set up a delegation to be led by Senator Ganiyu Solomon to console his family, the government and people of Plateau State.
Daily Trust