Elderstatesman Monguno Buried In Borno Amidst Encomiums

•He was one of Nigeria’s finest statesmen, politicians, says President
•He was an icon- Atiku
•Tambuwal mourns

imageFormer Minister of Petroleum Resources, Alhaji Shettima Ali-Monguno, who died on Friday, was buried at the Gwange Cemetery in Maiduguri yesterday.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the burial was preceded by a funeral prayer led by the Chief Imam of Borno, Imam Laisu Ibrahim, at the palace of the Shehu of Borno in Maiuguri.

Thousands of sympathisers, including Governor Kashim Shettima, former governors of the state as well as former ministers and heads of parastatals, agencies attended the event held under tight security at the palace.

Ali-Monguno, an elder statesman, who was also Minister of Mines and Power, Internal Affairs and Education, died at his residence after the Magrib prayers on Friday evening, according to a family source. He was aged 95.

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday described the late Ali-Monguno, as “one of the finest statesmen and political actors Nigeria ever had.”

In a statement by Malam Garba Shehu, the president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, in Abuja yesterday, the president condoled with Borno Government and the people.

A federal government delegation led by Major General Babagana Munguno (rtd) to the funeral quoted Buhari as saying that the deceased would “always remain a fountain of inspiration in life and death.”

According to the president, the late elder statesman from Borno, ranked among the most respected public figures in Nigeria while in office and while in retirement life.

He recalled that in the course of his public service as a Parliamentarian and a Federal Minister of Internal Affairs in the First Republic, the late Monguno “left behind a legacy of untainted and unblemished career.”

He said such virtues should be emulated by Nigerian leaders at all levels.

“Man’s greatest pride is to leave behind a good name and the late Monguno achieved that desire,” he added.

Buhari, who said that it would take volumes to narrate Monguno’s sterling virtues, extended his condolences to the family, government and the people of Borno over the loss.

He prayed Almighty God to grant the soul of the deceased eternal rest.

The government delegation, according to the statement, included the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, Minister of the FCT, Mohammed Bello and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu.

Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal also described the late statesman as a good man and a courageous citizen who risked his life to speak truth both to power and deviant non-state actors like Boko Haram.

The governor also described the late elder statesman as a patriotic citizen with resilience for the unity and stability of the country.

Tambuwal in a statement by his spokesman, Malam Imam Imam said “At a time when many in the country were afraid to speak against the murderous Boko Haram terrorist gang. Dr. Monguno stood as a prominent voice in expressing displeasure at how both Boko Haram decimated civilian population in the once peaceful enclave of his beloved Borno. The same voice spoke naked truth to the former regime in how it conducted the war”, he noted.

He said the late Ali-Monguno was also renowned for his philanthropy especially his contributions to the development of female education in Borno State in particular, and the North East region in general.

While commiserating with the people and government of Borno State over his death, Tambuwal prayed to God to give his family the strength to bear the loss.

In his tribute, the former Vice President and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar described the former minister as an icon of uprightness.

In a message of condolence by his media office, the former vice-president said that one of the most indelible public records of the late Ali Monguno “were his uprightness and remarkable honesty, qualities for which the former Minister of Mines, Power and Petroleum would be remembered.”

The Turaki Adamawa noted that “the late Monguno devoted his life to honest service rather than obsession with personal accumulation of wealth.”

According to Atiku, Monguno’s greatest asset in life was his integrity, recalling that the late elder statesman was one of the most credible and respectable parliamentarians of the First Republic.

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