Nigerians Mourn Rimi, Police To Probe
Death
The
Nigeria Police has been asked to investigate the circumstances
surrounding the robbery incident, which led to the death of
Alhaji Abubakar Rimi.
Rimi, a former governor of Kano state and a former ruling
Peoples Democratic Party Presidential aspirant, died from shock,
after an armed robbery attack, on the outskirts of Kano.
Acting President Goodluck Jonathan has directed the
Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ogbonnaya Onovo to fish out the
robbers and prosecute them to serve as deterrent to others.
The Kano Police Command confirmed the armed robbery attack on
Rimi’s vehicle and said the attackers dispossessed him of
valuables but did not harm him.
Reactions, condolences
In a statement, Acting President Jonathan expressed shock and
sorrow over the sudden death of Rimi, noting that his sudden
passage was ‘unfortunate, coming at a time when the country
needed his political counsel’.
It described Rimi as one of the great leaders of the Nigerian
nation, an astute politician and successful administrator who
would be remembered for his vibrant ideology and vocal advocacy
for the rights of the Nigerian people.
’’The nation will greatly miss his political experience and
invaluable contributions to nation building,” the statement
said.
The Acting President extended his profound condolences to the
family of the late politician, the government and people of Kano
state and the entire nation and prayed to Almighty to grant them
the strength and courage to bear the painful loss.
Senate President David Mark lamented the death of the frontline
politician, saying the nation had lost another political icon.
He said that the demise of Rimi at this point in time had
‘robbed the nation of his wealth of experience, most needed to
navigate the murky political water’.
According to Mark, ’’Rimi was a politician of inestimable
value. He played politics of honesty, integrity and without
bitterness…He was an advocate of equity and respect for human
rights and the rule of law and upheld democratic principles at
all times.’’
In his condolence message entitled, ’’Rimi: a rare
nationalist’’, the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Mr. Dimeji Bankole said the whole country would miss the
nationalist
Northern governors react
The forum of Northern State Governors has also expressed shock
over Rimi’s sudden death.
A statement by Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger, Chairman of
the forum, said the governors were touched by the sudden death
of Rimi, ’’a democrat, who had not only touched the lives of
people in Kano State but Nigerians as a whole.’’
The statement said the late politician turned the political
outlook of Kano, ’’through effective mobilisation of his
people and through radical approach to governance, in line with
the philosophy of the defunct People Redemption Party (PRP).’’
Police swings into action
The Inspector General of Police Mr. Ogbonnaya Onovo has directed
the Commissioners of Police in Bauchi and Kano to fish out the
killers.
The Inspector General of Police directed the Commissioners of
Police in Bauchi and Kano to pull out the full strength of their
operatives and detectives to identify and arrest Rimi’s
attackers for prosecution.
He reassured Nigerians of the force's determination and
commitment to rid the nation of the menace of violent crimes.
The late renowned politician was attacked while travelling on
the road to Bauchi. He was later taken to hospital after the
incident, but later died.
His remains have been buried in Kano state on Saturday,
according to Muslim rites.
A mammoth crowd of sympathisers and family members witnessed the
burial ceremony.
NAN/Yinka
