Eminent Nigerians Storm Kebbi To Bid Emir Of Zuru Farewell

From Ayodele Ajoge, Birnin-Kebbi

Vice President, Kashim Shettima; Kebbi State governor, Dr Nasir Idris; Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar III; Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; senators from Kebbi State, and other dignitaries paid their last respects to the late Emir of Zuru, Maj. Gen. Muhammad Sani Sami (rtd), Gomo II, during his burial in Zuru town, Kebbi State.

The late emir died last Saturday in London at the age of 81 after a brief illness, leaving behind four wives and seven children.

Senator Musa Maidoki, representing Kebbi South, and his colleagues also attended the burial.

At about 11:43am yesterday, an aircraft marked 5N-DOY touched down at the Zuru airstrip with Kebbi State governor, Dr Nasir Idris; the body of the late emir and his wives and children, while Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sunusi Lamido Sanusi, who led a delegation of traditional rulers landed at about midday.

Vice President, Kashim Shettima arrived in an aircraft marked NAF 205, at 1:58 pm and proceeded to the Zuru Central Mosque, where the funeral prayers were held for the late Emir.

All the markets in Zuru town were closed while major streets and roads linking to the mosque were crowded.

The Chief Imam of Zuru Central Mosque, Alhaji Suleiman Muhammad Tanko, led the funeral prayer immediately after the two Rakaat Jumuah prayers.

Vice President Shettima described the death of the former military administrator of Bauchi State as a great loss to the entire Nigeria.

He said: “This is a sad day for the entire nation; this is a sad day for the people of Kebbi State and indeed entire Nigerians.

“I am here on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to convey his condolences to the Kebbi State Government, the entire northern Nigeria and the people of Zuru Emirate on the demise of a man who spent all his entire life serving the entire nation.”

The vice president prayed to Almighty Allah to give the family and Kebbi State the fortitude to bear the loss