The Etsu Nupe and Chairman, Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahya Abubakar, has described the death of the Emir of Lafiagi, Alhaji Haliru Kawu-Sa’adu, as a great loss to his family, Lafiagi Emirate, Kin Nupe, Kwara State and Nigeria as a whole.
The Etsu Nupe, while reacting to the death of the monarch in Bida on Friday, said Alhaji Sa’adu-Kawu was a peace builder.
He said the deceased was an iconic leader, a patriot, humble and pious monarch.
The royal father stated that the late traditional ruler was committed to the development of his emirate, kin Nupe, Kwara state and Nigeria at large.
The Etsu Nupe lamented that the death of the emir has created a vacuum that would be difficult to fill, describing him as “one in a million”.
“The deceased showed love to the people who live in his domain, irrespective of tribal and religious inclination. He was a Godly father who had the interest of his subjects at heart above any other thing,” he said.
Alhaji Abubakar said the late emir was a committed technocrat, patriotic leader and a de-tribalised Nigerian.
“Though God has his reason for taking him at this point in time, as the people of kin Nupe enjoyed his fatherly advice, which will be greatly missed,” Etsu Nupe added
The royal father expressed his condolences to the family of the late Emir, Lafiagi emirate, Kin Nupe as well as the people and government of Kwara state.
Alhaji Abubakar, however, prayed God to grant the soul of late traditional ruler eternal rest in “Aljannatul Firdausi” and grant his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
The monarch who died at the age of 86, ascended the throne of his forefathers in July 1976 and spent 46 year as the Emir of Lafiagi.
He died at the National Hospital, Abuja in the evening of July 8, after a protracted illness.
