Former Kaduna Deputy Governor, Bantex, is dead

The immediate past Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Arc. Barnabas Bala Bantex, has died.

Bantex reportedly died in an Abuja hospital on Sunday, July 11, 2021.

Bantex was Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s deputy between 2015 to 2019 when he left Government House to contest for Southern Kaduna Senatorial seat but lost the election under APC ticket.

His death was confirmed in a press statement signed by Nasir El-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, on Sunday.

Bantex resigned as deputy governor to contest for Kaduna south senatorial zone election in 2019 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He served as a delegate to the 1994 constitutional conference, chairman of Kaura local government council and member for Kaura Federal Constituency in the house of representatives.

In February 2021, he said his relationship with El-Rufai remains cordial.

“I still meet with my former boss frequently, who makes sure that l am kicking fine,” he had said.

El-Rufai described the late Bantex as a “dear friend and partner in the service of Kaduna state”.

He said the state will miss his brilliance and commitment, his easygoing manners, his sense of humour and steadfastness to his convictions.

“I have spoken to his family and conveyed our condolence on behalf of the government and people of Kaduna State. We shall work closely with his family to grant a befitting farewell to a man who gave so much to this even when hobbled by ill-health,” he said.

“We have been blessed to know Bantex and to work with him. We pray God to grant him peaceful repose and to comfort his wife, children and the entire family in this moment of grief and loss.”