Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described Shehu
Idris, the late Emir of Zazzau, as a man of peace.
Idris, who spent 45 years on the throne, died at the 44 Army
Referral Hospital, Kaduna, on Sunday.
Speaking at a Fidau prayer held in honour of Idris, Obasanjo
said the late emir was his personal friend and confidant.
He recalled that when he had some challenges in Plateau
state during his tenure as president, it was the late emir that he contacted
for solution.
He said the late Idris was of great help to him when he was
a military head of state and a civilian president.
“I got from him all the help I need on running the affairs
of this country as best I can remember,” he said.
“I remember a particular problem I had in Plateau and I had
nobody to help me in meditation and reconciliation in sorting out the aged-long
problem, then I called him.
“The emir was a man of peace; a man who shows no
discrimination either ethnically, religiously or socially.”
The former president said his visit to Zaria was to
celebrate the late emir for his good works and not to mourn him.
Obasanjo said whether anybody likes it or not, “sooner or
later, we have to depart; my prayer is that the life of peace he has lived and
the peace that descended in Zazzau Emirate during his reign may continue in
Kaduna state and the whole of Nigeria”.
On his part, Kayode Fayemi, who led the delegation of
governors, said the late emir spent meritorious years on the throne, leading to
significant development in education and culture in the community.
He described the late emir as a bridge builder and prayed
that God will grant him eternal rest.
Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, said the late monarch
was “always there to guide my administration”, adding that the state benefited
immensely form Idris’ wealth of experience, having worked with over 20 past
governors of the state.
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