Speaker Abbas Loses Older Brother

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has lost his older brother, the Wamban Dawakin Zazzau, Alhaji Aminu Pate.

Alhaji Aminu Pate passed away on Wednesday night at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Shika, Zaria, after a brief illness. He was buried on Thursday afternoon in Zaria according to Islamic rites, following funeral prayers held at the Emir’s Palace.

The burial was attended by hundreds of sympathisers, including the Emir of Zazzau, His Royal Highness, Amb. Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli; former Kaduna State governor, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero; chairman of Zaria Local Government, Engr. Jamil Ahmad Muhammad; members of the Zazzau Emirate Council, district heads, titleholders, Ulamas, and other dignitaries.

Confirming his passing, the Zazzau Emirate Council issued a statement on Thursday, saying, “With profound sadness and total submission to the will of Allah SWT, Zazzau Emirate announces the passing of Wamban Dawakin Zazzau Alhaji Aminu Pate. He passed away at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Shika, Zaria, last night after a period of illness.”

The statement noted that the late Pate, a retired director with the Kaduna State Ministry of Local Government Affairs, had served in various local governments across the state. He is survived by his wives, children, and grandchildren.

In a condolence message, Speaker Abbas described his late brother as “a dependable brother, a dedicated father, a generous human being, and a devout Muslim, who gave his life to his family, community, and humanity as a whole.”

The Speaker added, “My brother was widely respected as a community and religious leader. He was an epitome of selflessness, kindness, honesty, integrity, and an inspiration to the upcoming generation.”

He also extended condolences to his nephew and Personal Assistant, Yahaya Aminu Pate, and other family members, noting that the loss “has left a huge vacuum in the royal family in the Zazzau Emirate.” The Speaker prayed to Allah (SWT) to forgive and grant the late Alhaji Aminu Pate Jannatul Firdaus.

Born in Zaria Local Government in 1958, Alhaji Aminu Pate began his career as a primary school teacher before joining the local government service in 1979. He rose through the ranks to become Director of Personnel Management (DPM) in 2000.

He served in 18 of the 23 local government areas of Kaduna State and held key positions, including acting chairman of Soba Local Government and secretary of Jaba Local Government. In 1985, he was appointed zonal secretary of the Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO).

After retiring from civil service in 2012, he was conferred with the traditional title of Wamban Dawakin Zazzau on July 1, 2011, under the late Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris. He later became the District Head of Igabi in 2012.

The late Wamban Dawakin Zazzau is survived by three wives and 27 children.