Author: The Nation

The elder brother of Alhaja Mulikat Folasade Lawal, a Lagos pilgrim, who died on Sunday, Alhaji Abdul Razak Olakangudu, has described the death of his sister as a big loss.

Olakangudu, who is also in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj, spoke with The Nation at the Mina tent of Lagos State pilgrims.

He came to thank the Amirul Hajj-led officials for locating him at the Kwara State camp to inform him of his sister’s death and enquire about the funeral procedure.

Mrs. Lawal died barely two days to completion of the Hajj rites.

She was on her way to the Jamrat, where the stoning of Shaytan (the devil) took place, when she slumped.

The Nation learnt she was rushed to hospital in Mina, where she died 10 minutes after.

Olakangudu said the 56-year-old deceased was survived by an 85-year-old mother, husband and two children.

An eyewitness said the deceased, who was said to be suffering from high blood pressure, sat down on the road.

She stood up to continue the trekking and slumped. She was confirmed dead in hospital.

Her remains have been taking over by the Muazazah (the person in charge of Lagos State pilgrims operation in Saudi Arabia).

The body, it was gathered, would be taken from Mina to Makkah where prayers would be offered for her in Masjid Haram before burial.

Olakangudu said the deceased’s widower, who is based abroad, was in Nigeria for the Eid-el-Kabir.

“He has been informed of the incident. My sister’s death is a big loss to the family. She liked being in the midst of her family… Many of our family members are always at her place. We are going to miss her a lot. Her death is an irreplaceable loss,” Olakangudu said.

Read Also: UPDATED: Lagos records first death in Saudi Arabia

He said he spoke with his sister last on Thursday when she brought his clothes.

“She came to my place at the Kwara camp, Makkah and saw that I have whitlow (Tinea Cellulitis), a thumb inflammation. She advised that I go for treatment in hospital and took my clothes away for washing. She returned the clothes on Thursday, but I was not around. She dropped them for my roommates and we spoke briefly on movement to Mina.

“It was shocking to receive the news of her death from our Kwara State Amirul Hajj, who was briefed by the Lagos team, led by Alhaji Soliu Olohungbebe. Although her death was painful, we can’t query Allah. We have accepted that as our fate,” he said.

Olakangudu said his mother asked about Mrs. Lawal 24 hours after her death.

“My mum has always been in touch with us on the phone. She called me earlier today (yesterday) that she hasn’t heard from me since Sunday. I told her all is well, before my younger siblings went to inform her,” he said.

Lagos State Amirul Hajj Dr. AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef, who received the deceased’s brother with some pilgrims from Kwara State, described her death as “painful.”

He commiserated with the bereaved family, her local government and the people she was with in Muna.

AbdulLateef said the woman showed no sign of illness all through the journey to Mina, Arafat, Musdalifah and back to Muna before embarking on the stoning of the devil.

Said he: “It is unfortunate that she died, but we take solace in the fact that she died a good death. Her place in paradise is not in doubt, considering the situation she was before the angel of death took her soul.

“We all know that one of the best things to happen to any human being is to die in the Holy Land because such a person’s sins and shortcomings will be erased. He or she will be under the mercy of Allah.

“Although we as human beings don’t like it, it is best for us if we know.”

Chairman of state Ad Hoc Committee on Hajj Alhaji Ahmad Jebe-Abdullahi commiserated with the deceased’s brother. He said death was inevitable.

Every soul, Jebe-Abdullahi said, would taste death at the appointed time.

“The time of our sister has come; we can’t stop it. We can only feel sad that our loved one is gone. I pray to Allah to grant the bereaved family the strength to bear the loss and Al-Jannah Firdaus to our late sister, ” he said.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has indicted the management of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi for the tragic collapse of a bridge in the school leading to the death of three students and others injured.

The association, among others, demanded compensations to the families of the students that lost their lives to the tragic incidence on August 3 and award of admissions and scholarships to qualified members of their families.

In a statement made available to reporters in Abuja on Tuesday, the association’s National President, Mr. Danielson Akpan, specifically indicted the school management for negligence.

Read Also: Xenophobia: NANS wants Nigeria, South Africa leaders to intervene

He said following the death of the three students during a downpour leading to bridge collapse in ATBU, the Executive Council of NANS was constituted, which went round the school to identify the causes of the tragedy.

He said the executive council, having assessed the site of the collapsed bridge, identified negligence on the part of the school management as a major cause of the tragic collapse of the bridge.

“The Students Union Government was able to prove, beyond reasonable doubt, that they drew the attention of the management to the state of the bridge and the need to address it immediately.

“This was ignored by the management and the result was the death of students on August 3.

“Secondly, we also discovered a serious disconnection and communication gap between the management of ATBU and the Students Union Government (SUG) as a major reason for inaction on the part of management,” he said.

Akpan called on the management of ATBU to tender unreserved written apology to the families of the victims of the bridge collapse.

He said NAN resolved that the management of the school must pay compensations to the families of the victims that lost their lives during the bridge collapse.

Akpan added that the management should also award scholarships and admissions to qualified members of family of victims who lost their lives in the tragic incidence.

The Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammad Sanusi (II), on Tuesday paid the traditional Sallah homage to Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje despite the frosty relationship between them over the alleged creation of four additional Emirates.

The monarch, who arrived at Government House at about 9.30a.m. Tuesday, accompanied by over nine District Heads – all dressed in royal regalia, alongside their horses – were received by Ganduje at Africa House, amidst pomp and ceremony.

After the Emir was ushered into the African House, he sat beside the governor.

The palace guards, who were clad in their unique green and red combination of flowing gown, sat in front of the Emir and occasionally praising the royal father.

Read Also: 11 Kano district heads defy Ganduje’s directives on Hawan Daushe

During the meeting, Ganduje expressed satisfaction over his administration’s effort to provide adequate security, emphasising that over 99 per cent of kidnapping attempts have been foiled through the collaboration of all the relevant security agencies.

The governor added that plans have been concluded to recover ransoms paid to kidnappers by the victims’ families.

Also, Ganduje said he would hold talks with President Alpha Conde of Guinea Conakry, focusing on trade relations, between the state and Guinea.

The Emir called on the good people of the state to continue to support Government’s efforts toward ensuring security of lives and property, as well as improving the standard of education.

Two hours after the traditional homage, no fewer than 10 deafening canon shots were fired into the air in quick succession, to signal the Emir’s departure from Government House, in a horse convoy through designated routes in the metropolis to Kofa Kudu (Emir’s palace).

The lingering feud between Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi ll has taken another twist, as 11 district heads defied a directive by the governor to attend Hawan Daushe Durbar at their newly created emirates.

Ganduje’s directive was issued in response to an earlier order by the emir inviting District Heads from all 44 local governments in Kano to attend the event in Kano city.

A statement issued by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Abba Anwar had instructed the district heads not to obey Emir Sanusi’s invitation.

The statement directed that only district heads under the jurisdiction of the Kano Emirate should attend the Hawan Daushe in Kano. It added that district heads in the four new emirates created by the Ganduje administration should attend the durbar at their respective emirate capitals.

But, 11 district heads, whose territories fall under the new emirates, participated in the Kano Hawan Daushe on Monday.

Read Also: Kano gov dispute: Ganduje, Abba know fate October

These include Madakin Kano Yusuf Nabahani of Dawakin Tofa, Dan Amar Aliyu Harizimi Umar of Doguwa, Dokaji Muhammadu Aliyu of Garko, Makama Sarki Ibrahim of Wudil, Sarkin Fulanin Ja’idinawa Buhari Muhammad of Garun Malam and Barde Idris Bayero of Bichi.

Others are Sarkin Bai Mukhtar Adnan of Danbatta, Yarima Lamido Abubakar of Takai, Dan Isa Kabiru Hashim of Warawa, Dan Madami Ibrahim Hamza Bayero of Kiru and Sarkin Dawaki Mai Tuta Bello Abubakar of Gabasawa.

The district heads’ defiance is in continuation of the running battle between Ganduje and Emir Sanusi.

The Ganduje administration is accusing the Emir of supporting its political opponents, an allegation he has always denied.

The governor had attempted deposing the Emir, but some influential citizens had intervened and appealed to him to give up.

Some residents of Gwoza and Bama in Borno State have expressed delight over peaceful Eid-el-Kabir celebrations for the first time in five years.

Gwoza and Bama were among the communities displaced at the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency in 2014.

Thousands of people from the communities, including the Emirs of Gwoza, Mohammed Shehu Timta and that of Bama, Umar Kyari El-Kanemi, fled their homes and took refuge in Maiduguri.

Sequel to the peace restoration and resettlement programmes, Timta and Elkanemi returned to their domains in July, which avail them the opportunities to celebrate the season with their subjects.

Read Also: NAF neutralises dozens of insurgents in Kollaram, Borno

A cross-section of jubilant residents said they celebrated the festivities in a happy mood without fear of attacks by the insurgents.

Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim, a resident of Gwoza, said he celebrated the Sallah with members of his family in a peaceful atmosphere.

Ibrahim recounted that thousands of Muslim faithful attended the Eid prayer under the stewardship of the emir.

Mrs. Fanta Mohammed, who celebrated the season in Bama, said she was elated over the peaceful conduct of the Sallah celebration.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai has paid tributes to soldiers, who died in theatres of operations across the country.

He also hailed the military for being ahead of security threats facing the country.

According to Army spokesman, Col. Sagir Musa, the COAS used the occasion of the Eid-el-Kabir to commend soldiers for their sacrifices for the country in spite of daunting challenges.

Col. Musa said Buratai, who celebrated the Eid-El-Kabir with troops at the frontline, urged them to redouble their efforts towards keeping Nigeria save and secure.

He added in a statement that the Army chief, who was represented by the Chief of Training and Operations, also visited recuperating troops at the 7 Division Medical Centre and Hospital Services, Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri.

Read Also: Buratai charges troops on loyalty, sacrifice

Col. Musa said: “The COAS said the Nigerian Army had lived up to expectations and remains ahead of the threats bedeviling the country despite some daunting challenges.

“He added that the Eid-el-Kabir festival reminds the officers and soldiers of the significance of loyalty, obedience and sacrifice, even as it provides a unique opportunity for the personnel to reflect and redouble their efforts towards fulfilling their roles and justifying the confidence reposed in them by Nigerians.

“He commended the sacrifices of troops in the ongoing operations across the country as they discharge their statutory responsibilities satisfactorily, adding that their dedication to duty had ensured that the Nigerian Army remains the bastion of the country’s unity.

“Finally, the COAS paid tribute to troops that had paid the supreme price in various operations across the country, and assured Nigerians that the Army would continue to meet its obligations to their families to ensure that the void left by their loved ones is not felt.”