Former Secretary to the Government of Federation (SGF), Alhaji Gidado Idris, who died on Friday night, was buried at Gudu Cemetery in FCT on Saturday amid tears and prayers from families and the Muslim community.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the former SGF died in Abuja at the age of 82 after a brief illness.
The burial, which was concluded at around 3 p.m., was attended by the Secretary to the Government of Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, and Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, among others.
Other dignitaries included the former Deputy President of Senate, Sen. Ibrahim Mantu; former FCT Minister, Alhaji Aliyu Modibbo; former SGF, Babagana Kingibe, the Executive Secretary, Abuja National Mosque, Alhaji Ibrahim Jega.
Also at the burial were former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to late Military Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, Maj. Hamza al-Mustapha, and former Gov. Babangida Aliyu of Niger.
Mr Mustapha said the deceased was among the brilliant technocrats produced by the country over the years.
He described him as “an embodiment of generous spirit, hard work and an experienced public servant.”
He said the late former SGF was endowed with institutional memory of the things that happened in the course of Nigeria’s journey to nationhood.
He also described late Gidado as a humble, thorough and simple man who was very accessible to whoever stepped into his office as SGF.
“I believe he was endowed with institutional memory of the things that happened in the course of Nigeria’s growth as a nation.
“The death was a huge loss to the family and the nation at large.”
Former Nigeria’s Ambassador to the UK, Amb. Sarki Tafida, who expressed shock over the death of Gidado, also said it was a huge loss to the nation.
He said, “when I got the news earlier today, I was shocked but I know that life is in the hands of God and Allah can take one’s life at any time.”
Eldest son of the deceased, Alhaji Ali Gidado, described his father as a devoted family man and a principled civil servant who taught his children to fear Allah wherever they found themselves.
Idris, who hailed from Zaria in Kaduna State, was appointed SGF in 1993 and he retired in 1999 after a civil service career that started before Nigeria’s independence.
