Buhari, Masari, Makarfi, ACF mourn Isyaku Rabiu

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has described the death of Kano State Islamic scholar and billionaire businessman, Isyaku Rabiu, as a colossal loss. Rabiu died yesterday in a London hospital at the age of 90 years. A statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu said this yesterday.

Buhari said the death was not only to the field of learning, but also the business sector.

According to him: “No tribute can do justice to the amazing virtues of Rabiu in view of his vast contributions to scholarship, industrial investments and devel- opment in the country.

“The late Rabiu had the remarkable qualities of combining scholarship and vast business investments that created job opportunities for hundreds of people.”

Also, Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari described the death of Khalifah Isyaka Rabiu as another monumental loss to the Islamic world.

Masari, in a statement by his Senior Special Adviser on Media, Abdul Labaran, said the sad incident came three days after the death of the Chief Imam of Katsina Central Mosque, Muhammadu Lawal.

According to the statement, with the death of Rabiu: “The religious and business communities in Africa, and the world at large, have lost an icon whose footprint would remain indelible for a long time to come.” On his part, ex-kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Makarfi’s in a statement by his spokesman, Mukhtar Sirajo, described the late Rabiu as an industrialist, a philanthropist and renowned religious leader.

It said the late sheik was also a businessman “whose interventions had a soothing effect on issues that needed wise counseling” in the country.

Makarfi said it was indeed painful that the Islamic scholar died at this time “when moderating voices such as his are sorely needed.”

ELDER statesman and constitutional lawyer, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, has described the recent invasion of the Senate chamber and seizure of its mace as a treasonable felony.

He made the explanation in a statement yesterday. According to him, it is punishable under Section 41 of the Criminal Code of the Nigerian Constitution.

Nwabueze added: “It is a treasonable felony for a person to “form the intention” of levying “war against Nigeria and to manifest such intention by overt act by force, or constraint to intimidate or overawe any House of the National Assembly.”