Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari is mourning the death of Dr. Nuhu Muhammadu Sanusi, the first-class traditional ruler (Emir) of Dutse, the capital city of Jigawa State. The revered monarch died Tuesday evening in Abuja. Though details of his death are still sketchy, reports said he died after a brief illness. He was aged 79.
In a statement by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Buhari said the late Emir “was recognized as one of Northern Nigeria’s modernizing leaders.”
Before his death, the Emir of Dutse was the Chancellor of Sokoto State University. Buhari said Emir Sanusi “was considered as an exemplary leader in the global quest for a sustainable living environment, and a lead advocate for afforestation and the green ecosystem.”
The statement said, “the late Emir’s official biography equally puts him up as an advocate of the mitigation of climate change, prompting him to build the Dutse Royal Golf Course which is reputed to be one of the largest in Nigeria with lush vegetation, exotic flora and rare fauna.”
Expressing sadness on the passing of the Emir, President Buhari said: ‘‘He was instrumental to the progress Dutse had achieved in the last three decades under his watch. He was a grassroots person who was loved by all.”
The statement further said the President conveyed his condolences and that of the nation to the Dutse Emirate, the government, and people of Jigawa State over the sad loss. Earlier, the Jigawa State Governor, Mohammed Badaru, had also expressed his condolences on the passing of the monarch.
In a statement, the governor described the late Emir of Dutse as a “true leader and a respected figure in the community, known for his wisdom, compassion, and dedication to the well-being of his people.”
He recognised the late Emir’s contributions to the growth and development of Dutse and the positive impact he had on the community. The governor offered his thoughts and prayers to the late Emir’s family and loved ones during this difficult time and said that his legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched.
“May the soul of the late Emir rest in peace and may the memories of his life bring comfort and solace to those he leaves behind,” the statement concluded.
