Saraki buried as Tambuwal, Ministers, Lawmakers, Sanusi attend burial

Saraki had been battling with cancer before he passed on.

The deceased former strongman of Kwara politics was buried in his house in Ilorin, Wednesday evening, as thousands gathered to honour him.

Top government officials gathered at the Ilorin International Airport to receive the remains of the deceased.

The corpse of the late politician arrived the Airport at about 4: 28 p.m. on board Overland Airlines.

The body was inside a golden brown casket and was carried shoulder high by some youth immediately the plane touched down.

The body was received by the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfattah Ahmed and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, who led a Federal Government delegation.

Bukola Saraki, who had arrived earlier on board Rivers State Government–owned plane marked N565 RS, was also at hand to receive the remains of his late father.

His sister and former senator, Gbemisola Saraki, and the wife of the late politician, Florence, were also at hand to receive the corpse.

There was no ceremony at the airport as the casket containing the remains of the late politician was immediately transferred to a waiting Government House ambulance.

The ambulance was later driven out to join the governor’s convoy at the Eid praying ground for a special prayer.

Also at the airport to receive the body were the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro; a former Senator, Jim Nwobodo; as well as Moshood Mustapha, the member representing Ilorin West/Asa Federal constituency in the House of Representatives.

Others were the Minister of National Planning, Shamsudeen Usman; former Peoples Democratic Party Acting National Chairman, Kawu Barage; Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi; and the Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

These prominent Nigerians also participated at the Islamic prayer for the deceased.

The llorin Eid praying ground, the venue of the prayer, was filled to capacity. The prayer was led by the Chief Imam of llorin, Muhammed Bashiru.

The corpse left the llorin Eid praying ground in a motorcade for burial at his llofa road residence in GRA, llorin.