Isyaku Rabiu buried as Buhari, Kalu, others mourn CAN Secretary
…President extols late Sheikh Rabiu’s virtues
Rev. Asake
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday expressed sadness over the death of the General Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Musa Asake.
This is as President Buhari tasked the children of the late Islamic scholar and businessman, Sheikh Isyaku Rabiu, to build on the cherished legacies of gentlemanliness and friendliness of their father.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, President Buhari joined the national leadership of CAN and the Christian community in Nigeria in mourning the cleric’s death. While commiserating with his family, Buhari prayed that God will comfort all those mourning the loss and grant his soul eternal rest.
Similarly, former Abia State Governor and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Orji Kalu, expressed sadness over Asake’s death, describing his demise as painful and shocking as he acknowledged the deceased’s contributions to Christianity. In the same vein, prominent Nigerians also expressed shock over Asake’s death.
A statement signed by his Special Adviser, Kunle Oyewumi, quotes Kalu as saying: “I received with pain the news of the demise of the General Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr. Musa Asake. “The deceased was charismatic and selfless in his endeavours. Our prayers and thoughts are with the entire Asake family during this sorrowful period.” Asake, who died at the age of 66, passed away yesterday after a brief illness.
A statement by Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, the Special Assistant, Media and Communications to the CAN President, Samson Olasupo A. Ayokunle says Asake was born on September 15, 1952 in Ung/Rimi Bajju- Kafanchan in Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
“Asake’s last official assignment was the Press Conference he addressed few days ago on the incessant killings in the country where CAN called on Christians to embark on a peaceful protest with a view to waking up the Federal Government with the security agencies to its constitutional responsibilities,” the statement reads.
In a related development, President Buhari, while speaking at the burial of Sheik Rabiu yesterday in Kano, challenged his children to build, if not surpass, their father’s laudable foundation.
Buhari was represented by Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) at the event, according to the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.
He said: “Your father lived a life worthy of emulation” while noting that the Federal Government delegation to the burial included National Security Adviser, Maj-General Babagana Munguno (Rtd); Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Sulaiman Adamu; Ministers of State for Aviation and Environment, Senator Hadi Sirika and Ibrahim Usman Jibril. Others were the Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris along with Garba Shehu.
Responding on behalf of the family members and followers of the late religious leader, his son and chairman of the BUA Group of Companies, Abdulsamad Isyaku Rabiu, thanked the president for personally calling on the phone and thereafter sending a powerful delegation to condole with the family.
Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has mourned the death of Dipo George, the son of the party’s former National Vice Chairman (Southwest) and former Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Bode George.
A statement issued by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said news of Dipo’s death came to the party with rude shock. “Our hearts bleed and we are extremely saddened by the loss of this promising young man who was known for his love for humanity and lofty dreams for a better Nigeria.”
