The Etsu Nupe and Chairman, Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, has described the death of Late Shaba Nupe, Alhaji Abdulmalik Ndayako, as a very painful and a colossal loss.
Alhaji Abubakar said that,the demise of the esteemed and highly revered Shaba Nupe is a great loss of an inestimable quantum. Abubakar said the deceased was an epitome of humility, piety and uprightness.
“Kin Nupe, Niger state and indeed the country, as a whole, will miss his wise counsel and wealth of experience as a seasoned and and an erudite Administrator,” he said.
The Royal father also expressed pains over death of Alhaji Ndayako, who was his uncle, Advisor and a trusted confidant.
“The late Shaba Nupe showed love to his people who live in his domain, irrespective of their tribal or religious inclinations and in spite of these, he was a Godly man who had the interests of all and sundry in kin Nupe at heart, above any other thing,” he said.
The Royal Father further said that, he was deeply touched when he received the sad news that Shaba Nupe had passed on.He added that, his death is a huge loss, not only to Nupe kingdom, but also to Niger state and the nation as a whole.
He said that, it was significant that, throughout his remarkable life, the late Shaba Nupe had retained the humble and an unassuming mien of a technocrat, saying “as a leader, he retained the respect of all in the Nupe kingdom.
“He was a bridge builder, an amiable personality, who was at home with his people and his demise has created a wide vacuum, too difficult to fill,” he added.
“He was a great leader and his network of friends extended beyond the shores of Nigeria.” He was indeed unique in his leadership style and was deep in his faith in the Almighty Allah.
“May his exemplary leadership in promoting peace, unity and progress of Nigeria be remembered as his legacy towards making Nigeria a better place to live,” the Etsu Nupe, averred.
The Etsu Nupe, however, prayed God to grant his soul eternal peace, and to grant all in kin Nupe, the formidable fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.
Also speaking after the two raka’at Janaiza prayer, the Emirs of Agaie and Lapai, Alhaji Yusuf Nuhu and Alhaji Umar Baago Tafida 111, said it was disheartening and painful to lose such a great mind that devoted all his life in ensuring peaceful coexistence of all and sundry in kin Nupe.
They both pointed out that, his demise had created a great vacuum that would be hard to fill.
They noted that, death was an expected end of every mortal and enjoined the Etsu Nupe, Bida Emirate Council and Nupes, to take solace in the words of God which say,” for everything under the sun, there is a time; a time to be born, and a time to die.”NAN
