A delegation from the federal government of Nigeria attended the burial of the renowned commercial icon and the old statesman, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, in the Santa Islamic city of Madinah, Saudi Arabia.
Alhaji Dantata died on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, at the age of 94. According to his wishes, he was buried in Madinah on Tuesday.
Also read: The Lagos government joins the African Cultural Festival to boost tourism
Alhaji Tajudeen Dantata, son of the deceased, and Alhaji Aliko Dangote, nephew of the late business magnate, arrived in Madinah on Tuesday morning with the body, accompanied by other family members.
The Federal Delegation left Nigeria on Sunday night and arrived in Madinah in the early hours of Monday.
Directed by the Minister of Defense and former governor of the State of Jigawa, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, the official delegation included the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, San; the Minister of National Information and Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris; the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Honorable Yusuf Abdullahi Ata; and Hassan Abdullahi, Director of Internal Security of the Office of the National Security Advisor (Onsa), which represents the NSA.
The prominent Islamic clergy also accompanied the delegation, including Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar, Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa and Khalifa Abdullahi Muhammad, IMAM of the Dantata Mosque in Abuja.
Officials of the Consulate General of Nigeria in Jeddah joined the delegation, led by Ambassador Ibrahim Moddibbo. He was accompanied by Ambassador Muazzam Ibrahim Nayaya and the attachment of the defense, Major General Adamu Hassan, who coordinated the arrangements for the funeral.
The vice president of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, former immediate president of APC, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, was present at the burial, along with the governors of the states of Kano and Jigawa, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf and Alhaji Umar Namadi, respectively.
Alhaji Aliko Dangote also directed other family members and the associates close to honoring the deceased patriarch. Emir de Kano, Muhammad Sanusi 11 and emir aminu ado Bayero were also present.
The deceased Alhaji Aminu Dantata was buried in the Al-Baqi cemetery, following Jana'iza's prayers after machinery in the Prophet Mosque in Madinah.