By Henry Umoru & Suzan Edeh
Late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s immediate elder sister, Hajiya Mairo, has died. She died Friday at the age 68 at the Federal Medical Centre, Katsina after a brief illness.

Confirming her death, her son, Alhaji Wada Musa Yar’Adua, said his mother, who was asthmatic, had an attack Friday’s evening and was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre Katsina for medical treatment.

Yar’Adua said his mother had experience attacks by the same disease a day earlier and was admitted at the Federal Medical Centre where she was put on oxygen for some hours. She was later discharged and allowed to return home around 3am by doctors after her condition has improved, he said.

Until her death, late Mairo was a stalwart of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and actively participated in the party’s campaign during the last election.

Popularly known as Mairo Tafida, the deceased is survived by her elderly Mother, Hajiya Dada, six children and many grandchildren. The funeral prayer was conducted yesterday.

In 2009, Yar’Adua lost his sister Hajia Hadiza who died in Cairo.

Meanwhile, Senate President  David Mark yesterday condoled the family of former President, late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua over the death of their younger sister, Hajiya Mairo Tafida.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, Senate President Mark in a condolence message to the matriarch of the Yar’Adua, Hajiya Dada, said,  “I receive the news of the death of Hajiya Mairo Tafida with rude shock.”

“At a time like this, her able hands and experience are needed for contribution to the socio-political development of the nation.”

Also, a former Special Adviser to Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State on Political Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Kundak has described the death of the elder sister of late President Musa Yar’dua, Hajiya Mairo, as great loss to the nation. He said the late Hajiya Mairo, who was an In-law to the Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda was a political activist under the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC,adding that her contributions would be greatly missed by the party.

Late Mairo passed away during the early hours of yesterday, after a prolonged asthmatic attack at the Federal Medical Centre in Katsina State.