*Consoles family in Maiduguri
By; SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri
The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima has on Saturday, lost his cousin brother, Alhaji Muktar Alkali who passed away on Friday July 7, 2023 after a protracted illness at the age of 57.
Kashim Shettima who arrived Maiduguri around 6 pm on Saturday for a condolence visit, was received at the Maiduguri International Airport by Governor Babagana Umar Zulum of Borno, State and other government officials and All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders, supporters and members among others, who accompanied the Vice President to the family house of the late cousin, Alhaji Muktar Alkali.
Late Alkali who passed away on Friday at the age of 57, was earlier laid to rest at the Gwange Cemetery Bama Road Maiduguri Saturday evening, around 5pm after the funeral prayers which was conducted according to Muslim rites with Governor Zulum and his encourage in attendance.
During the condolence visit, both the vice president and the governor, joined others in offering special prayers for the repose of the soul of the departed late Alkali, his parents and family, among others.
Late Alhaji Muktar Alkali was the former Provost, Borno State College of Agriculture, Muna Garage, Maiduguri.
He was also an advocate of youth employment as a way of addressing the challenges of poverty and insecurity in the country.
The event attracted notable Nigerians, Muslim clerics and traditional rulers, including the Shehu of Bama, Umar Shehu Kyari.
However, Vice President Kashim Shettima could not meet the funeral prayer of his late cousin brother, Alhaji Muktar Alkali on Saturday afternoon as scheduled, because he was earlier in the day, at Ijebu Ode, Ogun State to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the funeral service of late Otunba Michael Balogun which was held at Cathedral Church of Our Saviour in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State on Saturday.
It was from Ijebu Ode, the Vice President flew directly to Maiduguri for the condolence visit of his cousin brother, Ahaji Muktar Alkali.
He landed at Maiduguri airport around 5.40pm and moved straight to his late cousin’s family house for the condolence.
