The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami; the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar Saad III and the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Zulu-Gambari have sent their deep condolences to the Zazzau Emirate over the demise of her most distinguished monarch, Alhaji Shehu Idris.
Alhaji Idris, who was famously known as Sarkin Zazzau, returned to his Lord on Sunday after a brief illness, according to multiple reports at the age of 84.
In a condolence message posted on his official social media handles, Dr. Pantami said, “My special condolences to his family, the members of the Emirate and all his associates. May the Almighty Allah forgive and be Merciful to His Highness, the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris & our departed parents. Allah Ya kyautata na mu bayan na su!”
In another statement by Femi Abbas, Chairman, Media Committee, NSCIA, the Sultan of Sokoto described the late Emir as a frontline Nigerian Monarch, likening his demise to the case of a falconer flying away and leaving the falcons behind.
The NSCIA President-General prayed Allah to repose the soul of Sarkin Zazzau and forgive his shortcomings.
“It was another breaking news throbbing the media waves, furiously, last Sunday morning (September 20, 2020), to announce the demise of another frontline Nigerian Monarch. The announcement was that of the obituary of the Emir of Zaria, Alhaji Shehu Idris, who was famously known as Sarkin Zazzau,” the statement read in part.
It reads further, “The demise of His Royal Highness was a case of a falconer flying away and leaving the falcons behind. He had been briefly ill and was taken to the 44 Army Reference Hospital, in Kaduna, where he had the final breath with which he departed the world without bidding his family aurevoir.
“With the bewildering news of his demise from the media, the scroll of history was forced to replace its phase with a new chapter that may soon become a reference point in Nigeria’s 21st century.
“With a heavy heart of sorrow and a cloudy mood of mourning, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Dr. Muhammad Sa‘ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, hereby commiserates with the family and the Emirate of the late Sarkin Zazzau, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Shehu Idris, as well as other Royal Fathers and the entire Nigerian Muslim Ummah, praying the Almighty Allah to repose his soul in perfect, eternal bliss and grant everybody the fortitude with which to cope with any entailed agony. Inna lillah wa inna ilayhi raji‘un.”
On his part, the Emir of Ilorin noted that the death of the revered monarch is a colossal loss to Nigeria, adding that his contributions to nation building process would not be forgotten in a hurry.
“The Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Mai-Martaba Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, has commiserated with entire Zazzau Emirate Council over the death of the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris,” according to a statement by Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona, spokesperson to the Emir.
Arowona said, “The monarch who described the demise of the frontline monarch as a colossal loss to the entire people of Zazzau Emirate, Kaduna State and Nigerians in general stressed that, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Shehu Idris was a compassionate traditional ruler whose contributions to nation building process would not be forgotten in a hurry.
“Alhaji Sulu-Gambari also condoled with Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State as well as the entire traditional rulers in the state over the irreparable loss.
“My heart and prayers are with the immediate and extended families of the monarch and the entire Zazzau Emirate Council at this period of monumental loss. I pray Allah to accept his good deeds, forgive his shortcomings and grant him Al-janatul firdaos.”
