•••Aliko Dangote, Atiku, Ribadu Attend Janazah Prayers
By Kamsi Anayo
Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, mother of former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, was laid to rest on Sunday, in Abuja following her passing in Cairo, Egypt, on March 27, after a brief illness.
Her remains were repatriated to Nigeria early Sunday morning, after which the Janazah (funeral) prayers were observed at the National Mosque in Abuja around 1 p.m.
She was subsequently buried at Gudu Cemetery in accordance with Islamic rites.
The burial drew a wide spectrum of Nigeria’s political, security, and business elite, reflecting a rare moment of cross-party unity.
Among those in attendance were Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, Governors Umar Bago (Niger) and Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), and former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, alongside prominent industrialist Aliko Dangote and other leading figures from business and traditional institutions.
Nasir El-Rufai, who had reportedly been in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over related matters, was granted temporary compassionate release to attend the burial rites and be with his family during the period of mourning.
The large turnout at the National Mosque underscored the national significance of the moment, with thousands of mourners gathering for the prayers and burial procession.
The event has been widely viewed as a moment of shared humanity, with leaders across Nigeria’s political divide setting aside differences to pay their final respects.
