Former governor of Plateau State during the military regime, Commodore Dan Suleiman, is dead.

He died on Wednesday, aged 81 years.

Late Dan Suleiman was one of the founders of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).

He was also a member of the General Murtala Mohammed’s Supreme Military Council.

Suleiman served as federal commissioner for Special Duties in the General Yakubu Gowon government and was regarded as being instrumental in the founding of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

General Secretary, NADECO, Ayo Opadokun disclosed Suleiman’s death in a press statement on Wednesday.

Opadokun said he was informed of Suleiman’s death by the current President of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Dr Bitrus Porgu.

Opadokun, in the statement, described the late Suleiman as “consistently courageous, nationalistic, genuinely patriotic, whose life and times was rich for good purposes and services to God and humanity.”

The statement further read: “The National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) wishes to formally announce the painful and most unexpected death of one of our Founders and Titans, Commodore Dan Suleiman.

“Dan was a reliable, amiable and diligent leader whose vacuum will be difficult to fill. Where shall we find another Dan Suleiman?

“After the overthrow of Gen. Gowon’s government by General Murtala Mohammed, Dan Suleiman was again appointed Federal Commissioner for Health.

“Third, when Gen. Babangida annulled the victory of Bashorun MKO Abiola at the 1993 presidential election and General Abacha eventually also established his military dictatorship, Suleiman opposed and resisted the annulment and its new strongman”, the statement read in part.