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Acting President Goodluck Jonathan has described the late Lamidon Adamawa, Alhaji Aliyu Musdafa, as one of the true leaders of Nigeria, who, in spite of his great influence, chose to lead a quiet life.
The acting president stated this yesterday in a condolence message to Governor Murtala Nyako and the entire people of Adamawa State over the passing away of the Lamido, the longest serving emir in the north.
Jonathan commiserated with the family and subjects of the late monarch, praying the almighty God to give them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
The Lamidon Adamawa, who was buried yesterday at his palace, died at the age of 88 at his palace in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, in the late hours of Saturday.
Our correspondent who monitored the arrival of dignitaries at both the Yola International Airport and the palace reports that Sultan Sa'ad Abubakar III's aircraft was the first to arrive at 11.17 a.m. with some of his aides. A second plane came at 11.45 a.m. carrying former Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Muhammadu Gambo Jimeta, Senator Mahmud Waziri, former Governor of Adamawa State Boni Haruna, and Alhaji Dahiru Bobbo, the Dan Madani of Adamawa.
The first son of the deceased, Dr. Aliyu Barkindo (Ciroman Adamawa), who is one of the contestants to the throne, arrived the Yola airport at about 2 p.m. from Abuja. He had been away when the Lamido died.
An official statement issued yesterday by the Galadima of Adamawa, Alhaji Murtala Amin, said the monarch passed away at a quarter to 7 p.m. after a brief illness, which prevented him from attending the Juma’at prayers and that his burial was conducted according to Islamic rites yesterday at his palace.
Acting President Jonathan was represented at the funeral by the Secretary to the Federal Government, Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed.
The thousands of sympathisers that thronged Yola for the funeral included the Shehu of Borno, the emirs of Kano, Zazzau, Minna, and Suleja, the governors of Kano, Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi and Taraba states, as well as clerics such as Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi.
Prayers for the repose of the soul of the deceased, led by the Chief Imam of the Yola Central Mosque, Kadi Ahmed Bobboi, began at 2.30 p.m. The remains of the late Lamido were buried in the palace.
In remembering the emir, Governor Murtala Nyako said he received the news of the Lamido's demise with shock. He said during the monarch's reign there was tremendous peace and understanding in his domain due to the wisdom and experience that God had endowed him with. He prayed that God should reward him with Aljannah.
Nyako described the Lamido's death at this material time as a great loss not only to his immediate family and the people and government of Adamawa State but also to the country at large.
The Arewa Consultative Forum said it received the news of the passing away of the Lamido with a heavy heart.
Publicity Sectary of the ACF, Mr. Anthony Sani, said the Lamido had left his family, friends and the good people of Adamawa State and the entire nation with warm memories. "The Lamido of Adamawa paid his dues while alive in his unwavering pursuit of peace and prosperity for his people. That explains why in a way it can be said that the Lamido is still very much around despite the obvious fact that no one can fill the void which he has left behind in the lives of loved ones," he said.
"ACF prays to Allah to provide the people with the fortitude to endure what cannot be changed and the patriotic wisdom and courage to live up to the challenges of the late Dr. Aliyu Musdafa's legacies."
In his condolence, former governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, described the death of the Lamidon Adamawa as a monumental loss to the nation. "He lived a very quiet, religious and respectable life of propagating peace and unity to all his subjects since his ascension to the throne," he said.
In a statement issued by his media adviser Yusuf Dingyadi, Bafarawa said "Alhaji Aliyu Musdapha was a pillar of peace and unity to the north and entire country."
"He sacrificed all his time to ensure the provision of social amenities and progress to the Adamawa people. He truly built a bridge of peace and understanding among all his subjects through dedication, fairness and trust."
He prayed almighty God to grant his soul eternal rest and give his family the fortitude to bear the loss.
According to the Dan Masanin Kano, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, who was a First Republic minister, the late Lamido was a ruler who taught by example, adding that he was also an embodiment of traditional authority.
Sule noted that the deceased was an important farmer and great cattle rearer, who guarded the eminence of his office jealously through self-respect and dint of hard work.
He said: "With his dignity, his imposing personality, his sense of justice and fair play, his compassion and his commitment to his people even beyond Adamawa into the Cameroons where there are some Fulani rulers, he commanded tremendous respect among his subjects and even beyond."
The Dan Masanin Kano stated that the Lamido remained relevant throughout his rulership.
"He remained relevant in the sense that he realised that time had changed and that some people, through hard work, through education, through their achievements, must be recognised. He therefore recognised them with titles although they did not belong to the ruling class.
"Lamido was comfortable with any type of regime, be it military or civilian. He always tried to adapt himself to the situation.
"Lamido was a leader who taught by example; he was a big farmer who used to go to his farm personally almost everyday. He was a real Fulani man; he did not know the number of his cows."
Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Prof. Jibril Aminu, said the Lamido’s death was a great loss not only to Adamawa but to the entire country.
Alhaji Gambo Jimeta, in his reaction to the sad event, said the loss was unquantifiable, the Lamido "being a father". He urged the youth to emulate his life.
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