UPDATED: Attendance of Dignitaries as Buhari is Laid to Rest in Daura

Agaju Madugba, Katsina

President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, led a gathering of some African leaders, senior government officials, traditional rulers, political leaders and other citizens to pay final respect to former President Muhammadu Buhari, who was laid to rest in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State.

The burial prayer was conducted according to Islamic rites by the Chief Imam of Daura, Sheikh Alhaji Salisu Rabiu.

The ceremony attracted a number of foreign dignitaries, including President Umaru Sissoci Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, Prime Minister of Niger Republic, Ali Lamine Zeine, and former President of Niger, Issoufou Mahamadou.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar were among the most prominent Nigerian leaders present, alongside National Assembly leadership, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, Senator Kawu Sumaila, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, Senator Sani Bello, former Senator Abu Ibrahim, and former Senator Yariman Bakura.

Security chiefs in attendance included Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, former Chief of Defence Staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Y. Buratai (rtd), and former Director General of DSS Yusuf Magaji Bichi.

Playing host, Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, led the state government delegation, which included Deputy Governor Faruq Lawal Jobe, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Nasir Yahaya Daura, Secretary to the State Government, Abdullahi Garba Faskari, and members of the State Executive Council. Federal government officials present included Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political and Other Matters, Ibrahim Kabir Masari, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, and Minister of Housing and Urban Development.

The delegation also included the Minister of Information and National Orientation, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle, Minister of Agriculture Senator Abubakar Kyari, former Minister of Communications, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami, and former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

The ceremony was also attended by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum Chairman and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, alongside governors from Bauchi, Bala Mohammed, Yobe, Governor Mai Mala Buni, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi, Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu, and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The others are Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, and Cross River State Governor Bassey Edet Otu. Former governors in attendance included Ibrahim Shehu Shema (Katsina), Ali Modu Sheriff (Borno), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto), and Yahaya Bello (Kogi).

Private sector leaders Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Alhaji Sayyu Dantata, and Alhaji Dahiru Barau Mangal joined other dignitaries, while traditional rulers, including Emirs of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, Daura, Alhaji Faruq Umar Faruq, and Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero.

The funeral prayer held at the PMB Helicopter Ground in Daura witnessed an outpouring of emotion from citizens across the state who came to bid farewell to one of Nigeria’s most influential leaders.

(The Sun)