Former military governor of Kano State, Hamza Abdullahi, who died on Wednesday at the age of 73, will be buried in Kano, according to the Hadejia Emirate Council in Jigawa.
Spokesperson of the council, Garba Mohammed-Talaki, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Hadejia, Jigawa State.
Mr Talaki said after deliberations between the council and Mr Abdullahi’s immediate family, it was resolved that the deceased be buried in Kano according to Islamic rites.
He said the decision was for convenience, given that the deceased’s immediate family members were largely based in Kano.
The spokesperson said that paperwork had commenced between the Nigerian Embassy and German authorities to repatriate the corpse within the week.
He said Abdullahi was an indigene of Hadejia and a pillar in the council.
“He was a bossom friend to the father of the current Emir of Hadejia, Alhaji Adamu Abubakar-Maje.
“In 1984, it was late Abdullahi as a military governor of Kano, that presented staff of office to the late Emir of Hadejia, Alhaji Abubakar Maje-Haruna, the father of the present emir.
“It will interest you to know that Abdullahi and Maje-Haruna were friends who hail from Kasuwar Kofa area in Hadejia.
“So, the present emir maintained that good relationship when he was installed in 2002, involving Abdullahi in critical palace matters.
“He (Emir) considered him not only a close confidant but also a mentor,” Talaki said.
Abdullahi was military governor of old Kano State from 1984 to 1985.
He was appointed the minister of works and housing from 1985 to 1986 and became the FCT minister from 1986 to 1989.
He left behind three wives, undisclosed number of children and grand children.
