President Bola Tinubu has mourned the passing of the Emir of Ngazargamu, Alhaji Ahmad Tijjani Ibn Saleh, who died at 80 in Egypt after a prolonged illness.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed profound sadness following the transition of His Royal Highness, Alhaji Ahmad Tijjani Ibn Saleh Geidam, the Emir of Ngazargamu in Yobe State.
The highly revered first-class monarch passed away on Tuesday in Cairo, Egypt, at the age of 80, following a protracted illness.
The official condolence statement, signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, described the late traditional ruler as a foundational pillar of peace, a mentor to generations, and an exceptional custodian of the rich cultural heritage of the historic Kanem-Bornu Empire.
The late Emir’s son, Alhaji Tijjani Bala, who serves as the General Manager of the Yobe State Road Maintenance Agency (YORMA), alongside the Waziri of Ngazargamu, Alhaji Muhammad Baba-Kankare, officially confirmed the transition from Damaturu on behalf of the royal family and the Emirate Council.
“His Royal Highness embodied wisdom, humility, courage, and unwavering dedication to his subjects,” President Tinubu said. “He provided fatherly guidance and leadership that will remain a source of inspiration to the people of Gazargamu and Yobe State.”
Born in 1946 in Mairari, within the Geidam Local Government Area, Alhaji Ahmad Tijjani Ibn Saleh spent over three decades on the throne. Appointed in 1992, his 34-year reign spanned a period of critical transformation and resilience for the ancient emirate.
Beyond his royal and spiritual obligations, the late monarch possessed a rich background in civil governance and legal administration.
The Ngazargamu Emirate Council has disclosed that the remains of the deceased monarch will be repatriated from Cairo back to Nigeria for official state funeral rites.
The precise schedule for the final Islamic burial prayers (Janazah), which will be hosted in Damaturu, will be communicated by authorities in due course.
President Tinubu extended his heartfelt sympathies to the Yobe State Governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, the immediate royal household, and the citizens of the state.
He prayed that Almighty Allah forgive the monarch’s shortcomings, reward his decades of altruistic service with Al-Jannatul Firdaus (the highest paradise), and grant his grieving subjects the fortitude to navigate the monumental loss.
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