By Aideloje Ojo
Minna
President Mohammedu Buhari and the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Ahmed Bola Tinubu, yesterday led the team of personalities that attended the burial of the late Emir of Borgu Alhaji Haliru Dantoro Kintoro III, in New Bussa, Niger state.
Buhari and Tinubu who were personal friends of the late royal father and also traditional title holders of the Borgu chiefdom took time out to condole with the royal family after the burial at the palace.
Prayers were led by the chief Imam of New Bussa, Alhaji Ahmed Shehu after the body, conveyed in a chartered Arik Air 5N-JEA plane was received by the Niger state governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello at the Nigeria Air Force base, Kainji at about 11am
Other personalities at the burial included the Governor of Kebbi state, Senator Atiku Bagudu, some members of the National and State House of Assemblies, traditional rulers from across the country, as well as business community led by Alhaji Aminu Dantata
The remains of the late Emir were contained in a brown mahogany casket placed in an ambulance and taken in a motorcade to the Emir Palace from the Air force base for prayers and final burial rites.
Although President Buhari did not speak to journalists, but in a condolence meesage, he described the emir as his close supporter who was always out to see a united Nigeria.
Also in a tribute, Senator Tinubu who is the Jagaba of Borgu, described the late monarch as “a very close friend and compatriot, and his death is a very personal loss to me. Particularly, it was very painful when I saw him on Wednesday, he was looking radiant and ready to come back home.”
“And this sudden death is a great loss to the country. He is a patriot and a committed democrat and a valued Nigeria and a true leader of his people, not just limited to this Kingdom but across Africa. He is a bridge builder and a unifier,” Tinubu said.
