Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed profound grief over the passing of the Emir of Zuru in Kebbi, retired Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Sami (Gomo II).
The traditional ruler and a reputable retired military officer died on Saturday night in a London hospital, at the age of 81.
In a condolence message on Sunday in Abuja, Shettima described the death of the royal father as a monumental loss to Nigeria’s traditional institution and military heritage.
Shettima stated that the late highly revered Emir was an eminent leader who exemplified the rare combination of military discipline, traditional wisdom, and community service that defined Nigeria’s post-independence leadership generation.
According to him, when the giant Iroko tree falls, the landscape itself is forever altered.
“Today, our traditional and military landscapes look markedly different without Maj.-Gen.Sami’s commanding presence that bridged two critical pillars of our national leadership structure.
“Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Sami was not just an Emir or a military officer; he was a symbol of how diverse forms of leadership can unite to serve a common purpose – the betterment of one’s people and nation,”Shettima said.
The vice-president recalled that the late emir’s military background brought a unique dimension to traditional governance.
Shettima said the late emir’s strategic thinking and disciplined approach to leadership significantly enhanced the administrative efficiency of the Zuru Emirate.
He sets, “On behalf of President Bola Tinubu, myself, and the entire government of Nigeria, I express our deepest condolences to the immediate and extended families of the late Emir, the Zuru Emirate Council, and the entire people of Kebbi.”
While offering prayers for the repose of the departed emir’s soul, Shettima expressed confidence that his legacy would endure in the hearts and minds of those he served.
“I pray Almighty Allah to forgive his shortcomings and grant him Jannatul Firdaus. May Allah also grant his family, the Zuru Emirate Council, the government and people of Kebbi State, and indeed the entire nation the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” he prayed.
ACF mourns Emir of Zuru, business mogul, Isyaku Ibrahim
Meanwhile, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of two prominent Northern figures; retired Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Sani Sami, Emir of Zuru in Kebbi and Alhaji Isyaku Ibrahim, a veteran politician and renowned businessman.
This is contained in a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the forum, Prof. Tanko Muhammad-Baba, on Sunday in Kaduna.
The ACF described the late emir, aged 81, and Alhaji Ibrahim, aged 89, as illustrious sons of Northern Nigeria whose contributions to national development, regional advancement, and community service would be long remembered.
“The deaths of these two distinguished individuals are huge losses to Arewa and Nigeria at large,” Muhammad-Baba said.
Gen. Sani Sami, who bore the traditional title Gomo II, was a decorated military officer who joined the Nigerian Army in 1962 and served with distinction during the Nigerian Civil War between 1967 and 1970.
He later held various high-level military positions, including Commandant of the Brigade of Guards and Military Governor of Bauchi State.
Following his retirement from active service, he was installed as the Emir of Zuru, a position he held until his passing. ACF stated that his life was marked by “devotion to nation, community, and humanity.”
Alhaji Isyaku Ibrahim, on his part, was celebrated by the forum for his long-standing role in Nigerian politics and business.
A founding member of the Board of Trustees of both the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and later the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), he was also known for his philanthropic activities and commitment to sports development.
He was widely respected for his principled stance on national issues and his efforts in defending democratic norms, including his alleged role in resisting the controversial attempted abduction of the late politician Umaru Dikko during the military era.
“The Arewa Consultative Forum will forever cherish the legacies and memories of these great men,” he added.
ACF extended its condolences to the families of the deceased, the governments and people of Kebbi and Nasarawa State, as well as Nigerians at home and abroad. The forum also prayed for the peaceful repose of their souls in Aljannat Firdaus.