Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed profound grief over the passing of the Emir of Zuru in Kebbi State, Major-General Muhammadu Sami (rtd).
The traditional ruler and a reputable retired military officer died on Saturday night in a London hospital at the age of 81.
In a condolence message yesterday in Abuja, Shettima described the death of the royal father as a monumental loss to Nigeria’s traditional institution and military heritage.
He stated that the late highly revered emir was an eminent leader who exemplified the rare combination of military discipline, traditional wisdom and community service that defined Nigeria’s post-independence leadership generation.
According to him, when a giant Iroko tree falls, the landscape itself is forever altered.
”Today, our traditional and military landscapes look markedly different without Major-General Sami’s commanding presence that bridged two critical pillars of our national leadership structure.
“He was not just an emir or a military officer; he was a symbol of how diverse forms of leadership can unite to serve a common purpose – the betterment of one’s people and nation,”Shettima said.
The vice president recalled that the late emir’s military background brought a unique dimension to traditional governance.
Shettima said the late emir’s strategic thinking and disciplined approach to leadership significantly enhanced the administrative efficiency of Zuru Emirate.
He said, “On behalf of President Bola Tinubu, myself and the entire government of Nigeria, I express our deepest condolences to the immediate and extended families of the late emir, Zuru Emirate Council and the entire people of Kebbi State.”
While offering prayers for the repose of the departed emir’s soul, Shettima expressed confidence that his legacy would endure in the hearts and minds of those he served.
” I pray Almighty Allah to forgive his shortcomings and grant him Jannatul Firdaus.
”May Allah also grant his family, Zuru Emirate Council, government and the people of Kebbi State, and indeed the entire nation the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” he prayed. (NAN)
