Tens of thousands of sympathisers yesterday trooped to the Emir of Kano's Palace to witness the funeral prayer for the late Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi.
The former governor of the old Kano State died on Sunday evening, following an encounter with armed robbers on his way to Kano from Bauchi State.
As the news continued to spread in the early hours of Monday in the city about the demise of the outspoken and firebrand former governor, people gathered around the city discussing and mourning. They all wore grim looks..
Tumultuous crowd
Immediately the death was confirmed, the Emir's Palace - which was the venue for the funeral - was besieged by sympathizers.
Thousands of persons, irrespective of party leanings, took part in the rowdy funeral. Crowd control was overwhelming for the authorities as they were unable to bring the corpse out of the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital ambulance for the funeral prayer. The body was later brought to the palace at 12.45pm, where the deputy Imam of the Kano Central Mosque, Nazifi Dalhatu, led the prayers. The prayer was attended by the Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, among several other dignitaries.
Other dignataries who witnessed the prayer include the governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido; the former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; the former Labour and Productivity Minister, Musa Lawan Gwadabe; and the deputy governor of Kano, Abdullhahi Tijjani. The former governor has since been buried in the Tarauni Mosque in the city.
Among the dignitaries who paid tributes was Muhammed Abacha, the eldest son of the late Head of State, Sani Abacha. He said, "The loss is a monumental one, not only to the polity but to the entire human race. Rimi's single vocal voice has tremendously brought some purity in the elitism and political office holdership. Filling the vacuum he left behind is the greatest challenge that Nigerians as citizens would face in the next couple of years. The legacies he left behind in terms of social infrastructure, and otherwise is there for everybody to testify. The only justice Nigerians will do to Rimi is to strive hard to fill in his shoes, so that at least there will be some sanity in the conduct of life."
Former presidential adviser to President Shehu Shagari, Tanko Yakasai, said Mr. Rimi's death is a big loss not only to his family, but to the entire nation.
"Rimi was a dodged fighter, a fearless politician who dedicated his life to the unity of the nation and enthronement of everlasting democracy in the country. By his death, Nigeria has lost one of its pillars who stood firm in the struggle for the restoration of true democracy, not only in Nigeria but in the entire African continent. May Allah forgive his mistakes and grant his gentle soul rest in peace."
Tributes to a man of the people
Former Lagos State Police Commissioner, Abubakar Tsav, blamed police laxity for Mr. Rimi's death. "The death of Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi through armed robbery attack by a gang of blood thirsty armed robbers on the road brings to question the willingness and capability of the Nigeria Police to provide security for the people of this country. The federal, state, and local governments have on several occasions purchased and donated patrol vehicles to the police as well as provide money for fuelling to aid their operations. All these have not enhanced police efficiency in crime prevention and detection."
Rimi's younger brother, Sule Sa'a, said the Emir of Nasarawa, Hassan Ahmad, had advised the late Mr. Rimi to cancel the night journey. The younger brother, who sustained scalp injury during the encounter with the armed robbers, in tears narrated how "Rimi insisted on the journey to enable him meet some commitments in Kano."
Kano State governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, who is abroad, described Mr. Rimi's death as a big tragedy to the state and the entire nation. Mr. Shekarau, who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Sule Yau Sule, said, " it is tragic, a big loss not only to Kano, but the nation in general. He was a political icon whose ideology is being emulated by many."
Former All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) governorship candidate, Kabiru Gwangwazo, described Mr. Rimi's achievement during his tenure as governor of the state as the best ever.
"From 1979, when he became the first elected governor of old Kano State, no governor in both Kano and Jigawa States, and probably in the whole north, can be compared with him in terms of service delivery and mass followership. Since his time as governor, all politicians and political parties recruit most of their leading elites from among Rimi's disciples. His shoes would be very difficult to fill."
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