Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday led dignitaries, family members and mourners at the Janai’za (Islamic funeral prayers) of former Minister of Finance and Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji, who died earlier in the day at the age of 88 after a brief illness.
During his visit to Sokoto, the Vice President paid a condolence visit to the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, where prayers were offered for the repose of the late elder statesman.
Shettima described the former minister as one of Nigeria’s most distinguished public servants whose contributions to nation-building would remain indelible.
“He was a behemoth of institutional memory who will never be forgotten,” he said.
The Vice President said the late Alhaji would be remembered for his outstanding service to Nigeria and disclosed that the Federal Government would take steps to immortalise him.
He also prayed for Almighty Allah to grant the deceased eternal rest and give his family the strength to bear the loss.
Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji served as Minister of National Planning before becoming Minister of Finance during the military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida.
Following his tenure in the cabinet, he was appointed Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, a position he held until 1996.
His public service career began in 1964 as an Assistant Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Finance, before he rose through the ranks to become a Permanent Secretary in the former Federal Ministry of Trade.
Among those who accompanied the Vice President to the funeral were Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu; Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi; and the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties in the Office of the Vice President, Dr Aliyu Modibbo, alongside other senior government officials.
