The national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC and the Jagaban of Borgu, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Sunday joined other highly placed dignitaries, including President Muhammad Buhari to bid farewell to the late Emir of Borgu, Alhaji Haliru Dantoro Kitoro III (Mai Borgu), who was buried in New Bussa, Niger State.
The Emir, who was a former Minister and ex-senator, died on Friday in a German hospital at the age of 77 and his corpse was flown to New Bussa by Arik Air plane with registration number 5N-JEA, at 11.00 a.m.
The corpse was received by Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, and his Kebbi counterpart, Atiku Bagudu.
After about twenty minutes airport formalities, the corpse was brought out of the plane in a brown mahogany casket.
The corpse arrived the emir’s palace in Nigeria Airforce Ambulance with plate nember AF 221 BO1 around 11:45 a.m.
Tinubu, who was clad in cream-coloured agbada and brown cap and shoes to match, spoke with journalists at the Borgu Kingdom said “He was a very close friend and compatriot, and his death is a very personal loss to me.
“Particularly, it was very painful when I saw him on Wednesday, he was looking radiant and ready to come back home.
“And this sudden death is a great loss to the country. He is a patriot and a committed democrat and a valued Nigeria and a true leader of his people, not just limited to this Kingdom but across Africa. He is a bridge builder and a unifier,” Tinubu said.
A funeral prayer was held before the late Emir was buried in the palace. The prayer was led by Chief Imam of New Bussa, Alhaji Ahmed Shehu.
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