The first civilian governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Abubakar Habu Hashidu, died yesterday in his house in Gombe, after a protracted illness.

Alhaji Abubakar Habu Hashidu, 74, was buried yesterday at the Gombe Central Cemetery along Bajoga Road after funeral prayer at the emir’s palace.

He was born on April 10, 1944 at Hashidu village in Dukku LGA, and elected governor under the platform of the defunct All Peoples Party (APP) in 1999.

 According to family sources, Hashidu was admitted several times at the Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH) in Gombe. He was said to have Alzheimer’s disease.

His funeral prayer was held at 5:15pm and was led by the Chief Imam of Gombe Central Mosque, Sheikh Muhammad Pindiga.