Vice President Kashim Shettima, on Thursday, led mourners at the funeral rites (Janai’za) of former Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji.
The elder statesman, who passed on earlier the same day at the age of 88 after a brief illness, had served as Minister of National Planning and later Minister of Finance during the military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd).
On arrival in 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 peaceful repose of the late elder statesman.
VP Shettima described the deceased as a symbol of institutional memory, who will never be forgotten, noting that the late Alhaji would be remembered for his service to the nation.
He also stated that the Nigerian Government would immortalise the elder statesman.
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The Vice President prayed to Almighty Allah to grant the deceased eternal rest and give the family the fortitude to bear the loss.
The late Alhaji had also served as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom after leaving the Finance Ministry.
He began serving Nigeria in 1964 as an Assistant Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Finance before ascending to the position of Permanent Secretary in the then Federal Ministry of Trade.
