The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, led a high-powered Federal Government delegation to Kwara State on Saturday to offer condolences over the recent deaths of the Chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Saliu, and the Chief Imam of Kaiama, Alhaji Umar Sabi Mohammed.
According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Deputy President of the Senate on Media and Publicity, Malam Ismail Mudashir on Saturday, the delegation’s first stop was the Kwara State Government House, where they were received by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
From there, they visited the Emir’s Palace and the residence of the late Chief Imam.
The delegation included three serving governors: Malam Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), and Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), as well as two former governors, Alhaji Yahaya Bello (Kogi) and Senator Adamu Aleiro (Kebbi).
Also part of the team was the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political and Other Matters, Alhaji Ibrahim Kabiru Masari.
Barau, who is also the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, conveyed condolences on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, praising the late clerics for their contributions to Islam and peaceful coexistence in Nigeria.
Speaking about the Chief Imam of Ilorin, Barau said the late Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Saliu was “a truthful and upright cleric whose life was devoted to the service of Allah and humanity.
“He spent his lifetime propagating Islam and preaching harmony among the people of this country.”
AbdulRazaq thanked President Tinubu and the delegation for their visit and support during the period of mourning.
“This is a delegation of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Tinubu, sent to convey his condolences over the passing of the Chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Saliu, who died on January 19, this year.
“Mr President recognises that the late Sheikh was a truthful and upright cleric whose life was devoted to the service of Allah and humanity. The Chief Imam was a prominent member of the Islamic clergy in Nigeria, a renowned cleric who spent his lifetime propagating Islam and preaching harmony and peaceful coexistence amongst the people of this country.
“May Allah SWT grant Sheikh Aljannatul Firdaus and give all those he left behind the fortitude to bear his passing,” Barau averred.
