Obasanjo, governors lead dignitaries at Emir of Zaria’s fida’u

FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi as well as the Chairman of Northern Governors’ Forum and Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong were among dignitaries at the third-day fida’u of the late Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, in Zaria.

The prayer, which held at the emir’s palace, was also attended by the host Governor Nasir El-Rufai, his Niger and Jigawa states’ counterparts Abubakar Bello and Badaru Abubakar.

In a condolence message, Obasanjo described the late emir as his friend, confident and adviser.

He said: “I got from him all the help I needed in running the affairs of this country as best as I can remember.
“I remember a particular problem I had in Plateau State. I had nobody else to help me in mediation and reconciliation, sorting out the aged-long problem; then, I called him.

“The emir was a reconciliator and a man of peace; a man who showed no discrimination, either ethnically, religiously or socially.
“Whether we like it or not, short or long, sooner or later, we have to depart. My prayer is that the life of peace he has lived and the peace that descended on Zazzau Emirate during his reign may continue to pervade the Emirate, Kaduna State and all of Nigeria.”

Fayemi said he and fellow governors were in Zaria as a delegation of the NGF to pay their last respects to the late emir and condole with the Zazzau Emirate and Kaduna State.
Lalong, whom is the Chairman of Northern States’ Governors’ Forum, said he was representing the region’s governors at the prayers.