Alhaji Shehu Idris, the 18th Emir of Zazzau and the Chairman, Kaduna State Council of Chiefs, is dead.
The Waziri of Zazzau, Malam Ibrahim Muhammad, confirmed the emir’s death in Zaria.
The Emir died at the 44 Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna in the early hours of Sunday at the age of 84.
Shehu Idris was coronated the Emir of Zazzau on February 15, 1975, and ruled Zazzau emirate for 45 years, before his death.
Kaduna State Government has announced the passage.
Governor Nasir El-Rufai said in a statement signed by Mr Muyiwa Adekeye, his media aide, that the Emir worked very hard for the people “throughout his long reign of 45 years”.
“He offered wise counsel and was committed to the goals of improving health outcomes for all our people. He raised school enrolment and promoted peace and security in the state,” he added.
“He demonstrated dedication in his roles as Chairman, Kaduna State Council of Chiefs and member of the State Security Council.
“The state will miss his experience, institutional memory and wisdom. We pray Allah to grant him aljanah firdaus,’’ the statement added.
President Muhammadu Buhari expressed shock and grief over the death.
Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, said Buhari condoled with the government and people of Kaduna State over the demise of the traditional ruler.
In a condolence message to El-Rufai, the government and people of Kaduna State, the president said:
“With the passing of Alhaji Shehu Idris, Nigeria has lost one of its longest reigning traditional monarchs whose contributions to the promotion of unity and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians cannot be forgotten for years to come.
”The Emir of Zazzau, who ascended to the throne in 1975, had used his long reign to serve his people with dedication and identified with their aspirations at all times.”
He prayed to Allah to forgive the late Emir and grant his family and subjects the fortitude to bear the loss.
The Emir died at the 44 Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna in the early hours of Sunday at the age of 84.
Shehu Idris was coronated the Emir of Zazzau on Feb. 15, 1975, and ruled Zazzau emirate for 45 years, before his death.
While mourning the monarch, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described him as a remarkable traditional ruler and a man of peace.
Reacting to the death of the monarch in a statement by his media office in Abuja, the former Vice President said that “the late Idris was a gentleman who brought dignity and respectability to his office throughout his long rule.”
According to Atiku, “you can’t meet the late Emir Idris without being overawed by his humility and knowledge of issues and his broadminded outlook on life.”
He noted that the late Emir Idris was a towering personality whose legacies in 45 years on the throne shall remain indelible.
The Wazirin Adamawa expressed his deepest condolences to the Shehu Idris family, the Zazzau Emirate Council and the government and people of Kaduna State over the loss of a frontline monarch.
The former Vice prayed to God to forgive the soul of the Emir and reward his noble deeds with paradise.
In his condolence message, former Kaduna State governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, said: “I have received with shock and sadness, but also with total submission to the will of Allah, news of the death of our father, His Highness Alhaji Shehu Idris, Emir of Zazzau and Chairman of Kaduna State Council of Chiefs, earlier today.
The late Emir of Zazzau was no doubt, a colossus the loss of whom has certainly created a vacuum, not only in Kaduna State, but the entire country, that will be difficult to fill. Not only was he a man and leader that was at peace with himself as he was with all that he interacted with, he lived peace and exuded it. To him, no sacrifice was too much make for the peace of his people and all.
During my time as Governor of Kaduna State between 1999 and 2007, I benefitted immensely from his wise and fatherly counsel, especially at those times that we were trying to navigate through turbulent waters. His contributions to deliberations at the Security Council meetings, at which he was almost always present and punctual, were always incisive, laden with wisdom and a genuine desire for peaceful coexistence amongst the people of the state.
In the late Alhaji Shehu Idris, Nigeria, nay humanity has lot a pillar, from the life and times of whom we should draw invaluable lessons in decency, respect for all, sacrifice and humility despite privileged background.
As I pray to Almighty Allah to forgive and grant him Jannatul Firdaus, I also convey my most heartfelt condolences to his family, the Zazzau Emirate Council, Kaduna State Council of Chiefs and the government and people of Kaduna State. I also pray to Allah (SWT) to grant us all, the fortitude to bear this loss.
All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said the passing of the Emir at 84 marks the end of an era in Zazzau Emirate and the North.
In a condolence message on Sunday in Lagos by his Media Office, Tinubu, described the late Emir as a detribalised Nigerian who was committed to Nigeria’s unity and progress.
He said the Emir would be deeply missed by those who knew or encountered him.
The former Lagos governor said: “I’m saddened by the news of the passing on Sunday of the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris.
“His passing marks the end of an era in Zazzau Emirate and indeed in the North. As the longest reigning traditional monarch in the emirate and perhaps the North, Alhaji Idris ruled with dedication and distinction. He was extremely humble and unassuming, and a friend of all.
“A detribalised Nigerian, he was committed to Nigeria’s unity and progress. He was close to many Northern leaders as he was close to Southern leaders.
“I have lost a friend and a father. He would be deeply missed by all those who came in contact with him.
“My condolences to his family, the Zazzau Emirate, Kaduna Emirate Council and the government and people of Kaduna State.
“My prayer is that Almighty Allah reward him of all his good deeds, forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljanna Firdaus (Amin).”
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), says it received with shock and sadness news of the death.
The National Publicity Secretary, ACF, Mr Emmanuel Yawe, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Kaduna.
According to him, until his death, the monarch was one of the oldest and highest ranking traditional rulers not only in the north but the whole of Nigeria.
“The deceased was the 18th Emir in the Zazzau Emirate, recalling that in February the late Emir celebrated his 45th year on the throne.
“He ruled his Emirate through a period of rapid political, economic, social changes, but never lost his focus on his primary responsibility of maintainance of peace and progress in his Emirate.
“The late emir played a prominent role as one of the five emirs, who founded the ACF with its headquarters located in his domain – Kaduna.
“The Arewa Consultative Forum Condoles with his immediate family, the Zauzau Emirate and the Kaduna State government over this tragic loss,” the statement read.
The forum said its would miss his fatherly advice on all issues that were tabled before him.
The Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade, who said he lost a good friend, expressed sadness over the passing of Emir of Zazzau and Chairman of Kaduna State Emirate Council, Alhaji Shehu Idris.
Acknowledging his age-long personal relationship with the late Emir, Oba Oyewumi described the deceased as a reliable and dependable friend, adding that the exemplary qualities of the late Alhaji Idris, are worthy of emulation by all leaders.
Lamenting the demise of the monarch, the first class traditional ruler, who is also the Chancellor of Plateau State University, Bokkos, stressed that the traditional institution has lost a great asset.
In a condolence message by the monarch, signed by his Private Secretary, Toyin Ajamu, Oba Oyewumi extended his heartfelt condolences to the Zazzau Emirate Council, people and government of Kadun state, over the sad loss.
He said, ” I was pained when I received the news of the passing of my good friend, Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris.
“My relationship with the late Alhaji Idris dates back to the early seventies.
“Up until his death, we had a blosom relationship.
“He was gentle, kind-hearted, urbane, forthright and dependable.
” The late Emir served the people of Zaria and its environs meritoriously.
“He was a strong advocate of peaceful co-existence among all tribes.
“The late monarch sustained the heritage of the revered stool of Zazzau Emirate.
“His demise is indeed a personal loss”
The nonaganerian monarch while praying to Allah to repose the soul of Alhaji Idris, called on the deceased’s family to sustain the good legacies of the late Emir.
