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The news of the death of former Vice President Aliu Mahama yesterday morning turned the entire Tamale metropolis into a big funeral ground instantly. At Yendi, his hometown, the situation was no different. Business activities virtually came to a halt, as some shop owners, believed to be relations and sympathizers, immediately closed for the day and headed home to be informed of arrangements for the burial. A number of radio stations, including North Star Radio, owned by the former Vice President, started playing dirges. At the time of DAILY GUIDE�s visit to his family house at Vittin Estates, a suburb of Tamale, the atmosphere was gloomy, with a number of persons seen erecting canopies in anticipation for the arrival of mourners. Northern Regional New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman, Alhaji Sulemana Tia, who was at the family house at the time, could only say Alhaji Aliu�s death was indeed a great loss to Dabgon. It would be recalled that Alhaji Mahama had been rumoured dead last Wednesday but it turned out to be untrue, a situation which angered sections of residents in the Northern Region. They wondered why people would want their relation dead when medically he had not been confirmed dead by doctors. News of the death of the elder statesman which spread like wild fire on various media outlets left residents confused. But family members maintained he was in critical condition after being on admission for 10 days at the Cardiothoracic Centre of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and attempts were made for his condition to be stabilized by doctors of the facility. It was finally confirmed that the former Vice President passed on in the early hours of yesterday. Alhaji Mahama, after serving his eight-year term as Vice President under President John Kufuor, had been a regular visitor to Tamale where he had won the hearts of many residents. In the last couple of years, he attended major celebrations in the region and took time of his busy schedule to visit some prominent persons including traditional rulers and religious leaders in the three regions in the north. That had endeared him to the people who saw him as a true son of the area. The businessman cum politician, residents told DAILY GUIDE, would forever be remembered for his role in instilling discipline in the northern youth and playing a key role in fostering unity among the various chieftaincy factions in Dagbon. He played a major role as a Board Member of Real Tamale United (RTU). Family Members in Yendi and Tamale revealed that funeral arrangements would be announced later even though it had been scheduled for tomorrow in Accra.