Remains of the former President, Court of Appeal and Galadiman-Katsina, Justice Mamman Nasir, have been laid to rest.
Nasir died on Saturday at the Federal Medical Centre, Katsina, after a brief illness, at the age of 90.
His funeral prayer was led by the Chief Imam of Malumfashi, Sheikh Muhammad Kabir, and was attended by the State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mannir Yakubu, Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir, traditional rulers, government officials within and outside the state, among others.
Nasir was buried at a Cemetery in Malumfashi about 6:30pm.
Until his death, he is the Galadiman-Katsina, District Head of Malumfashi in Katsina State.
Galadiman-Katsina is one of kingmakers in Katsina Emirate Council.
He was turburned as Galadiman-Katsina in 1992.
He left behind three wives, 13 children and many grandchildren.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has described the death of Nasir “as not only a loss to the judiciary, but also the country at large, because of his remarkable commitment to public service.”
Reacting to the death of the Galadiman Katsina in a statement soon after he heard the news, Buhari recalled that “the late Nasir belonged to a generation of Judges and Justices who perceived public office as an opportunity to offer selfless service to the country and its people.”
According to Buhari, “Nasir and Judges of their golden age were more interested in leaving untainted record of integrity than accumulation of wealth overnight.”
Buhari said “when you look at Nasir’s modest lifestyle and his incredibly humble possessions, you would be disarmed at once by his honesty and patriotism.”
“While some Nigerians perceive public office as an opportunity to line their pockets, men of Nasir’s character put a higher premium on honest labour than on greedy accumulation of questionable wealth overnight”, Buhari added.
The President explained that “gentlemen like Mamman Nasir succeeded in protecting their reputation because greed was far removed from their minds”, and that “contentment is the secret to a happy life of service to the people.”
According to the President, “lack of contentment is the devil behind greedy accumulation of wealth at the expense of others, but selfless public servants like Nasir were never motivated by the desire to live above their means.”
Buhari said “Nasir’s family should be proud of their father because he built a solid and impeccable record of integrity, which is the greatest asset any individual should leave behind.”
The President directed that a government delegation be sent to condole the family, the government and people of Katsina State for the loss of this illustrious member of the Katsina Emirate Council.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, described the death as a monumental loss to the country.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Turaki Hassan in Abuja, Dogara described Nasir as a legal icon.
He said Nasir was a courageous jurist who served the country meritoriously and contributed immensely to the development of the law and independence of the judiciary.
The lawmaker said Nasir, the Galadima of Katsina played major roles in stabilising Nigeria at various times during periods of difficulty and uncertainty.
According to Dogara, his contribution to the overall development of Nigeria will be remembered as one of his legacies.
The speaker noted that Nasir’s death came at a time his wisdom, wealth of experience and fatherly guidance were most needed, not only in his home state, Katsina, but in Nigeria at large.
“Nigeria has indeed lost a great and courageous man who exhibited good character and served his country with dignity and integrity.
“His death will surely leave a huge vacuum that will be difficult to fill,” dogara said.
The speaker condoled with the government and people of Katsina State as well as Katsina Emirate Council and prayed God to grant his soul eternal rest and his immediate family, the fortitude to bear the loss.
Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State also expressed sadness over the death, saying that Nigeria has lost one of its last standing illustrious sons.
Masari stated this on Saturday in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Abdu Labaran, and made available to newsmen in Katsina.
He described the late jurist as “one of the leading conscience of the nation, who led an exemplary life defined by uncommon patriotism in the tradition of his mentor, the late Premier of the North and Sardaunan Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello.
“The late traditional ruler and former jurist, whose professional career peaked as President of the Court of Appeal, was a rare gem, and his death has created a wide leadership chasm that may take a long time to fill.
“His death is particularly devastating coming at a time when our nation, buffeted by many challenges, not least that of insecurity, requires his wise counsel”.
The governor extended his condolences to President Muhammadu and the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumin Kabir Usman on behalf of himself, the government and people of Katsina state.
He also called on Nigerians to borrow a leaf from the deceased and lead a life devoted to the service of the people in whatever endeavour they find themselves.
The governor also condoled with the immediate family of the deceased and urged them to take consolation in the fact that he had lived a fulfilled life.
He prayed to the Almighty Allah to forgive him all his shortcomings and make paradise his final resting place.
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) described Nasir as an embodiment of hard work, diligence and selflessness, who committed his life to nation building.
The ACF said this in a condolence message to the family of the late jurist, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mohammed Ibrahim, issued in Kaduna on Saturday.
It said that Nigeria and the North in particular have lost a finest elder statesman, bridge builder and a leader who lived a simple and humble life.
‘The elder statesman was a man of great vision and public intelligence which he put to use in tireless support for the unity and stability of Nigeria.
“The late elder statesman would be remembered for his commitment to national unity, peace, harmony through selfless service to his fatherland.
“And above all, for his sustenance of the legacy of late Prenier of Northern Nigeria, Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto, to wit, honesty, selfless service, accountability and respect for constituted authority.”
The ACF prayed that those he left behind would live up to what he stood for.
It also prayed for the repose of his soul in Aljannah firdaus, and for the family, the government and people of Katsina State to bear the loss with fortitude.
Nasir, the Gadiman Katsina and District Head of Malumfashi, was buried Saturday evening at Malumfashi cemetery.
Also, former Abia State Governor and Senator-elect, Abia North Senatorial Zone, Dr. Orji Kalu, described the passing of Nasir as a big loss to the country.
Extolling the virtues of the late Galadiman Katsina, Kalu urged the deceased’s family members to uphold the extra-ordinary virtues of their late patriarch.
He acknowledged the contributions of the late elderstatesman to nation building in different capacities.
In a condolence message issued by his media office on Saturday, Kalu commiserated with the government and people of Katsina State over the painful loss.
He said: “The demise of the former President of Court of Appeal and Galadiman Katsin, Justice Mamman Nasir is a huge loss to Nigeria.
“The late jurist was forthright, patriotic and outstanding in all his endeavours.
“The late Galadiman Katsina contributed immensely to the Nigerian judiciary.
“He will be remembered for leaving behind worthy legacies for Nigerians to emulate”
Kalu, who is also Mayaki Katsina, prayed to Allah to repose the soul of the late Galadiman Katsina and grant the Nasir family the fortitude to bear the loss.
