Shettima, Atiku, Ribadu, others attend Jibril Aminu's funeral prayer

Vice President Kashim Shettima today led other Muslim faithful for the Jana’iza (funeral prayers) of the late elder statesman, renowned medical scholar and former Minister of Education and Petroleum, Jibril Aminu, at the National Mosque in Abuja.

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Mr Aminu, a one-time President of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation (OPEC), passed on in Abuja on Thursday after a prolonged illness.

The vice president, who arrived at the National Mosque at 1:52 p.m., commiserated with the family of the deceased and prayed to Allah to comfort them and make Aljanna Firdaus the final abode of the late elder statesman.

Noting that the late Mr Aminu’s demise is a great loss to the nation, Mr Shettima described the late surgeon, educationist and administrator as a man who saw it all, just as he said the deceased was an intellectual giant who can hardly be replaced.

“It is a very sad loss. Prof Jibril Aminu was the last of the great titans, an iconic figure who enormously contributed to the development of the nation.

“He was variously the Executive Secretary of NUC, Vice Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri and Honourable Minister of various ministries across the country and left his landmarks on the sands of time.

“He is irreplaceable. May Allah grant him Aljanatul Firdaus and give the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. His loss is not just to the good people of Adamawa State but to the nation and Africa at large,” the Vice President prayed.

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Born in Song, Adamawa in 1939, Mr Aminu was a towering figure in Nigerian public life.

The late consultant cardiologist served the nation in different capacities, including as Federal Minister of Education and later Federal Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (1989–1992), Ambassador of Nigeria to the United States (1999–2003), and Senator representing Adamawa Central (2003–2011).

He was also President of OPEC in 1991 and President of the OPEC Conference between 1991 and 1992 while he was Petroleum Minister.

READ ALSO: Tinubu mourns Jibril Aminu

Other mourners who joined the vice president at the National Mosque in Abuja for the Jana’iza included former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu; Special Adviser to the President on General Duties (Office of the Vice President), Aliyu Modibbo; former Secretary to the Federal Government, Yayale Ahmed; former Governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako; former Governor of Gombe State, Danjuma Goje; former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai; former Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman; former Minister of State for Health, Aliyu Idi Hong, among many others.

Stanley Nkwocha
Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications
(Office of The Vice President)