President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday described the death of Kano-born Islamic scholar and billionaire businessman, Alhaji Isyaku Rabiu, as a colossal loss – not only to the field of learning, but also the business sector.
Rabiu, who was the leader of Islam’s Tijjaniyya Movement in Nigeria, died at the age of 93 on Tuesday at a London Hospital, according to a statement by the family.
“No tribute can do justice to the amazing virtues of Isyaku Rabiu in view of his vast contributions to scholarship, industrial investments and development in the country.
“The late Rabiu had the remarkable qualities of combining scholarship and vast business investments that created job opportunities for hundreds of people.
“The deceased had attained success through honest labour and resourcefulness which helped him achieve fame in life, and such virtues are not common in the context of today’s realities, where many resort to some other means to gain success,” the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, quoted Buhari as saying in a statement.
The President urged the deceased’s children to build on his “remarkable” legacy, while condoling with his family, the government and people of Kano State.
According to the family, the deceased – who is survived by his wives and 42 children, among whom are the Founder & Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu; and the Chairman of IRS Airlines, Rabiu Isyaku Rabiu – will be buried according to Islamic rites on Friday, May 11, 2018.
Meanwhile, a former Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has also condoled with the deceased’s family and the Kano State Government, saying that the demise of the Islamic cleric and businessman was a great loss to the country.
In honour of the late business mogul, the Kano state government has declared Friday, May 11, as public holiday.
This is contained in a statement signed by the State Commissioner of Information, Malam Mohammed Garba and issued to newsmen in Kano on Wednesday.
He said the public holiday was declared to enable Muslims in the state attend the funeral prayer of the deceased which is scheduled to take place on Friday at the Sheikh Isyaku Rabi’u Juma’at mosque in Kano metropolis.
According to the Commissioner, the funeral prayer will take place at 2:30 pm immediately after Juma”at prayer.
A renowned philanthropist, business mogul and Islamic cleric, Khalifa Sheikh Rabi’u died on Tuesday at a London hospital after a protracted illness.
The remains of the deceased are expected to arrive Kano on Thursday.
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