Political and academic leaders have mourned the passing of former presidential Chief of Staff, General Mohammed Abdullahi.
Among them are the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu; the Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Abuja, Prof. Sulaiman Abubakar; and university don Prof. AbdulRazaq Oniye.
They described him as a devoted public servant whose contributions to governance and national development were remarkable.
Abdullahi, who served two former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and the late Musa Yar’Adua as Chief of Staff, died on Wednesday and was buried the same day at the National Cemetery in Abuja in accordance with Islamic rites.
Speaker Danladi-Salihu, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Shehu Yusuf, expressed sadness at the passing of General Abdullahi, describing him as one of Nigeria’s finest officers.
“Nigeria, and indeed Africa, has lost one of its finest officers in General Abdullahi Mohammed Adangba. It is a huge loss for us, especially now when his experience would have been invaluable as a respected military general to address Nigeria’s security challenges,” the Speaker said.
He commiserated with the Emir of Ilorin, the family, Adangba Quarters, Ilorin Emirate, and all those the late general had served, praying for Allah’s forgiveness and his admission into Aljanat Fidaus.
On his part, the Director-General of NILDS, Prof. Abubakar, said he received the news of General Abdullahi’s death with a profound sense of loss.
Sulaiman, in a statement issued by his media adviser, Mohammad Abdulkadri, said the death of the general represents a dark chapter in the annals of the nation and a monumental loss to Kwara State and Ilorin Emirate in particular.
He eulogised the distinguished military career and the inspirational post-retirement services rendered by the deceased as former military governor of Benue and Plateau States and as the pioneer Director-General of the National Security Organisation (NSO).
Also, the Dean of the Graduate School, University of Kigali, Rwanda, Prof. Oniye, described Abdullahi Mohammed as a pan-African leader because of his commitment to national security, integrity, dedication to service, and the security of the African continent.
He maintained that Gen. Abdullahi was a detribalised Nigerian and seasoned administrator, noting that he demonstrated the discipline associated with his military background by refusing to be drawn into partisan politics while responding to all calls of national service.
Abdullahi died at the age of 86 and was buried the same day at the National Cemetery in Abuja. The Janazah prayer was earlier held at the Ansar-U-Deen Mosque, Abuja.
Speaking with LEADERSHIP Weekend at the deceased’s family home in the Adangba area of Ilorin, the Imam of Adangba Mosque and a younger brother of the deceased, Muhammad Bashiru Imam, described him as “our family’s umbrella.”
“He was a devoted Muslim and always observed his prayers at Ansar-U-Deen Mosques in Ilorin and Abuja. This explains why the Janazah prayer for our father was held at Ansar-U-Deen Mosque in Abuja.
“We will miss him greatly. He was a cover for the family. We believe the government, at both state and federal levels, will honour him for his contributions to the growth of Kwara State and Nigeria,” Imam said.
