Posted by By ANDY ASEMOTA,Katsina on
The Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Muhammadu Kabir Usman, passed on Saturday at the National Hospital Abuja after a prolonged illhealth. The remains of the royal father were interred yesterday in the palace after Muslim rites.
• Kalu condoles Yar'Adua
The Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Muhammadu Kabir Usman, passed on Saturday at the National Hospital Abuja after a prolonged illhealth. The remains of the royal father were interred yesterday in the palace after Muslim rites.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Katsina monarch had been presumed dead at his palace in Katsina but the speculation was quickly dispelled by the Katsina Emirate Council.
Born in 1929, the royal father had a distinguished career in the public service before he ascended the throne as the 47th ruler of the Katsina Emirate in 1981.
His contemporary and district head of Rimi, Alhaji Nuhu Abdulkadir, who announced the passage of the emir in Katsina said President Umar Musa Yar'Adua would lead the Federal government's delegation to the funeral ceremony.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar among other Northern royal fathers were scheduled to pay their last respect to the Katsina ruler. Nuhu Abdulkadir who has been deputizing for the emir at most public functions for several months since the emir had not been seen in public described the late monarch as a highly religious and humble leader.
Meanwhile, the immediate past governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, has joined millions of Nigerians to condole with President Umaru Yar'Adua, the government and people of Katsina State over the passage of the ancient town's monarch.
Kalu, who incidentally is the Maiyakin Katsina, regretted that the Emir had departed at a time he was most needed.
Noting that 'the will of Allah be done" the former governor remarked that during the tenure of the late Emir, Katsina witnessed unprecedented peace and in the process produced Nigeria's President.