Kure Laid To Rest In Minna Residence Amidst Surging Crowd

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By; BALA B. BITRUS, Minna.
The remains of late Engineer Abdulkadir Abdullahi Kure, former Governor of Niger state (1999 – 2007) were laid to rest Wednesday afternoon in his house in Minna.
The final rites for his internment had begun Tuesday evening when his corps arrived at the Minna Airport from Germany where the former Governor had gone for medical treatment about a week earlier but died Sunday afternoon in the course of his treatment at a German hospital.
The burial prayers were offered at the Eid-el prayer ground at about 12 noon amidst tumultuous crowd which almost halted the prayers as a mass of surging crowd of people milled around the Ambulance that brought his remains to the prayer ground.
It took pall bearers and security personnel over 15 minutes to bring out the corps from the vehicle as the crowd went berserk in their attempts to touch the local casket bearing the corps of the former Governor.
Though the prayers were brief, the restless crowd of sympathisers held up the process by the pall bearers to carry the body into the Ambulance for the return journey to the home of the late politician for the burial.
Security operatives supported by faith based calvary paramilitary bodies such as members of the Jama’atu           Nasir Islam, the Aid Group and the likes had hectic time controlling thecrowd of sympathisers to make wayfor the corps to get into the vehicle.
Earlier in the morning at the residence of the late politician the scenerio was even more. Political associates, members of the federal executive council, his former colleague Governors that served during late Governor Kure’s 8 year rule and sympathisers, political cronies, including street urchins were everywhere in the house for the burial as they stormed the GRA residence of the former Governor to bid him farewell.
League of Imams led by the Chief Imam of Minna, Malam Ibrahim Abu Fari had earlier in the morning conducted a special prayer session on the remains of the former Governor and for his family members.
The prayer session was a follow up to series of prayers which was kick started by the Etsu Lapai and cousin to the late Governor, Alh. Umar Bago Tafida, Etsu Agaie, Alh. Yusuf Nuhu and Emir of Minna, Alh. Farouq Bahago.
Many dignitaries took turn to offer prayers on the remains of the former Governor before his body was driven to the Eid-prayer ground for Jainaiza prayers.
A few of the early callers include former Senate President Pius Anyim, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, former Governor of Sokoto, Alh. Attahiru Bafarawa, Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Minister of Defence, Alh. Yayale Ahmed and Daar Communication Chairman, Chief Raymond Dokepsi had registered their presence at the residence of the deceased.
Others include Colonel Habibu Shuaibu, a one time past Military Administrator of Niger state, Dr. Shem Nuhu Zagbayi, former Deputy Governor of the state, serving and former members National and state Houses of Assemblies and political leaders from different political parties.
At about 11:24 am, the corps was brought out of the house amidst shrill cries and shouts of Allahu Akbar! It was a huge task for pall bearers to carry the body into an awaiting Ambulance stationed at a distance less than 10 metres from the entrance to the sitting room. It took strenuous efforts to get the corpse into the ambulance as people surge in to have a last glimpse and touch ‎of the body.
The continuous shouts of “Allahu akbar” rented the air as both men and women broke down in tears.

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