ONE of Nigeria’s foremost businessmen and philanthropist, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, was buried on Tuesday, June 1, at the Baqiyya Cemetery in Madina, Saudi Arabia, in a ceremony attended by top Nigerian dignitaries, religious leaders and members of the Nigerian community in the Kingdom.
The ceremony was attended by the Governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf; his Jigawa State counterpart, Umar Namadi; Emir of Kano, Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II; deputy governor of Katsina State; Defence Minister, Badaru Abubakar, who led the Federal Government’s delegation; former governors and joined thousands of mourners for the Janaza (funeral prayer) held at the Holy Mosque.
Yusuf, Namadi and Sanusi were allowed by the Saudi authorities to view his body and offer a final prayer before the Janaza, a gesture described as “a rare honour befitting a man of immense spiritual and social stature.”
Yusuf told journalists after the burial: “This is a deeply emotional moment for all of us. Dantata was -more than a businessman; he was a father-figure, a philanthropist and a guiding light for generations of Nigerians.
“We pray that Allah grants him the highest rank in Jannatul Firdaus.”
Namadi added: “On behalf of the government and people of Jigawa State, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the Dantata family and the entire people of Kano.
“May Almighty Allah dwell his soul in the most peaceful part of Paradise.”
