A former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, on Thursday described the death of the second republic senator, Dr Olusola Saraki, as a loss to the country. Atiku said this in Ilorin during a condolence visit to the family of the late politician who died on Wednesday.

He told Sen. Bukola Saraki, that the death of his father was not only a loss to Ilorin Emirate, Kwara State, but Nigeria and mankind in general.

He said that everybody should take solace in the fact that the late politician lived a fulfilled life in the service of humanity. "Dr Saraki touched the lives of millions of people in the country; he was kind, compassionate and merciful. He was a man of the masses," Atiku said.

The former vice president described the late senator as a man with a large heart who would never retaliate or engage in retribution. He prayed that the legacies left behind by the late political leader be sustained and maintained by his political associates, both in Kwara and Nigeria.

He appealed to the first son of the deceased, to continue with the legacy his father left behind for the benefit of mankind and the country in general.

A former Inspector General of Police, Chief Sunday Adewusi, was also at the residence to condole with the family of the Second Republic senate leader. Adewusi told Bukola that the mantle of leadership of the family had fallen on him, adding that what could please the late senator was for him to continue with the legacy. (NAN)