Mustapha B Wadda, the first S peaker of the National Assembly in the Second Republic (1997-2002) passed away yesterday, Sunday 31st January 2010 at the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital, Banjul, age 79.

According to release issued by the presidency, the Gambian leader His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahy AJJ Jammeh sympathises with the family of the deceased, and expressed  his great shock on the sudden demise of Mr Wadda.

Reproduce below is the full text of the release:
It is with great shock that His Excellency, the President of The Republic of The Gambia, Sheikh Prof. Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh, leant of the untimely death of Mr Mustapha B. Wadda, former speaker of the National Assembly and one time also Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service, which sad event took place on Sunday 31st January, 2010 at the RVTH. The late Mr Wadda was 79.

It has been understood from the family of the deceased that Mr Wadda?s last wish was to be given immediate, private and modest burial. Funeral would take place today, Monday February 1st, 2010 at the Bakau Cemetry at 2.00pm, to be preceded by Fidaw at 1.00pm at the Bakau Central Mosque.

On his behalf, and on behalf of the entire cabinet, the government and the people of The Gambia, His Excellency, the President prays that the soul of the late Mustapha B. Wadda rests in perfect and eternal peace and that Almighty Allah rewards him his heavens.