The remains of the late Emir of Gumel, Alhaji Dr Ahmad Muhammad Sani II, were buried on Friday amidst tears and sorrow, as Vice President Kashim Shettima led a Federal Government delegation to the funeral.
The remains of the 16th Emir of Gumel, who died in Egypt, arrived at the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, from where they were conveyed to Gumel in Jigawa State.
He was buried at the Emir’s Palace after the funeral prayer held at about 7pm.
The Federal Government delegation led by Shettima included the Chairman of the Northwest Development Commission, senators, members of the House of Representatives and other political leaders.
Also present were Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi; his deputy, Engr Aminu Usman; former governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar; former governor Sule Lamido; Speaker of the Jigawa State House of Assembly and other senior government officials.
Traditional rulers from within and outside Jigawa State, including the Emirs of Hadejia, Kazaure, Dutse and Kano, also attended the funeral.
Thousands of residents of Gumel Emirate, friends, associates and sympathisers joined the funeral prayer and burial rites.
The late Emir, who reigned for 46 years, was widely regarded as a respected traditional ruler whose tenure spanned several decades of political and social changes in the emirate and the state.
Speaking to journalists after the funeral, Shettima described the death of the monarch as a profound loss to Jigawa State and Nigeria.
He said the late Emir represented a generation of traditional rulers whose influence extended beyond the palace to peacebuilding, education, community development and national cohesion.
According to him, the monarch would be remembered for the length of his reign and the stability, wisdom and sense of duty with which he served his people.
“His Royal Highness was more than a traditional ruler.
He was a father, a bridge-builder and a stabilising voice whose wisdom served his people and the nation for almost half a century.
“He belonged to that distinguished generation of traditional leaders who understood that the palace must remain a place of refuge, counsel and unity for all. His passing has taken from us a repository of history, experience and institutional memory,” Shettima said.
The Vice President conveyed the condolences of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government to the royal family, the Gumel Emirate Council, Governor Namadi, and the government and people of Jigawa State.
He prayed Allah to forgive the late Emir’s shortcomings, accept his good deeds and grant him Aljannah Firdaus, while asking God to give his family, the emirate and the people of Jigawa State the strength to bear the loss.
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