The Kebbi State Government has described the late former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Muhammadu Usman Ankwe, as a humble and detribalized leader.
The Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy to Kebbi State Governor, Abdullahi Idris, who made this remark, further stated that in the build-up to the 2023 general elections, late Usman Ankwe was noted for being a politician committed to unity, peaceful coexistence, and development.
He said, “Having performed creditably well to the satisfaction of the political party stakeholders, Ankwe was appointed a commissioner by Governor Sa’idu Nasamu Dakingari and at the same time conferred with the traditional title of Liffidan by the late Emir of Zuru, Major-General Muhammadu Sani Sami Gomo II.”
Prior to his death, Rt. Hon. Ankwe, considered among the new-breed politicians in the present political dispensation, rose from being a Hajj Guide to being discovered to have the capacity for Chairmanship of Zuru Local Government Area.
He was therefore endorsed by community leaders to contest for the membership of the State House of Assembly and eventually recorded a landslide victory at the general elections to become the representative of Zuru Local Government Constituency.
Soon after the inauguration of the legislature, the 24-member House of Assembly, apparently conversant with his enviable track record of service, unanimously elected Honourable Muhammadu Usman Ankwe as the Speaker of the State House of Assembly.
The compatibility of Comrade Governor Nasir Idris and Rt. Honourable Muhammadu Ankwe had undoubtedly facilitated the rapid socio-economic development of the state in all sectors and promoted cordiality in the relationship between the two arms of government.
At a point in time, Late Ankwe’s legislature was alleged to be a rubber-stamp of the Executive due to the regular and timely passage of the Executive bills being presented for execution towards achieving Comrade Governor Nasir Idris’s urban renewal programme.
Responding to such allegations at a media briefing, Late Usman Ankwe said, “If mobilising honourable members to support His Excellency Comrade Nasir Idris’s administration’s developmental programmes is called a rubber-stamp legislature, so be it; I have no regret.”
That almost cost him his seat as an attempt was made by some members to impeach him as the Speaker.
At home, late Usman Ankwe had demonstrated an undisputed commitment to improving the well-being of the people of his constituency.
Among his remarkable achievements were the construction of a considerable number of inter-community bridges, the provision and rehabilitation of boreholes, electricity transformers, and monthly allowances of between N5,000 and N10,000 for the vulnerable, the aged, and widows across his constituency, regardless of ethnic or religious affiliation.
It was also common knowledge that Late Ankwe had provided full backing for Comrade Governor Nasir Idris’s determination to ensure the reconstruction of the dilapidated and abandoned Koko-Zuru federal road.
To those unaware, it was Usman Ankwe who accompanied Comrade Governor Nasir Idris on a visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with a visual video clip of the hardship being encountered by the people of Zuru Emirate resulting from the abandonment, which resulted in the revocation of the road project contract and subsequent handover to the state government as requested.
Also worth noting was the courageous effort made by the late Usman Ankwe in changing the narrative of an unfortunate attitude of a bring-down syndrome engaged in by some politicians in Zuru Emirate who derive pleasure in requesting previous Governors to remove from office civil servants and political office holders of Zuru Emirate for their personal interest.
On the contrary, Late Usman Ankwe, who enjoyed unrestricted access to the Governor, was known for undertaking several visits to the Governor in pursuance of the rights of his constituents for either appointment or a fair share of project allocation.
Comrade Governor Nasir Idris has been expressing appreciation for the immeasurable support of the late Speaker, which fast-tracked the achievements of his administration within the last three years.
In his condolence message, Comrade Nasir Idris described the late Speaker as “a committed lawmaker, outstanding leader whose devotion, humility, wisdom, and dedication to the service of Kebbi State distinguished him as a true democrat and patriot”.
Late Muhammadu Usman Ankwe died at an Egyptian hospital on Monday, 6th April, 2026. He was survived by his wife and five children.
May Allah SWT grant him eternal rest.
