Tributes as late SCSN president, Datti Ahmed is buried in Kano

From Salim Umar Ibrahim, Ibrahim Musa Giginyu (Kano), Muideen Olaniyi (Abuja) & Abiodun Alade (Lagos)

Tributes poured in on Thursday as the President General of the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN), Dr Ibrahim Datti Ahmed was buried in Kano on Thursday.

The SCSN is the focal Islamic religious institution that deals with Sharia in Nigeria and is also a representative body of Nigeria’s Muslim scholars.

The renowned medical doctor, politician and Islamic cleric died in the early hours of Thursday after a protracted illness, aged 83 years.

He was buried at Tarauni Cemetery after a funeral prayer conducted at Alfurqan Mosque in Kano.

He is survived by a wife and 10 children.

In his quest to help people, late Ahmed established the first private hospital in Kano and dedicated all his time to Islamic promotion.

He also contested for presidency during the aborted third republic under the SDP political party.  

While in service as the President-General of the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN), late Dr Ahmed was instrumental to many positive developments in the council.

He became more recognised when he opted out of the team during an arranged dialogue with Boko Haram. His letter made public on his reasons behind his decision to back out went viral and as such earned him more respect.

He wrote on March 18th, 2012: “As a concerned elder and President of the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN), I felt very disturbed with the turn of events and the increasing cycle of massive violence in our country, and especially, in the northern and Muslim part of Nigeria.

“We in the SCSN, therefore, made enquiries as to how to reach the current leadership of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunnati Lidda Awati wal Jihad, otherwise known as Boko Haram.

“Our enquiries led us to a reporter who we realised maintained close and valuable professional contact with leadership of the sect. Through this gentleman, we contacted the leadership of the sect and established from them that as Muslims, they were prepared to consider “Sulhu” which means broad reconciliation regarding the dispute between them and the government.

“It was, at this juncture, that the Secretary-General of the SCSN and I, on behalf of the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria, contacted the federal government at the highest level and intimated them of this great possibility of reconciliation and peaceful resolution of the crisis.

“This was on Monday, March 5th, 2012. My delegation was well received and a high-ranking civilian officer was appointed immediately to liaise with us towards a successful resolution of the crisis.

“To our shock and dismay, no sooner had we started this dialogue than Nigerian newspapers came out with a lot of the details of the meeting held.

“This development has embarrassed us very much and has created strong doubts in our minds about the sincerity of the government’s side in our discussion as the discussion is supposed to be very confidential to achieve any success.

“In view of this unfortunate and unhelpful development, we have no option but to withdraw from these early discussions. We sincerely regret that an opportunity to negotiate and terminate this cycle of violence is being missed.”

Tributes

A man blessed with immense wisdom – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari in a tribute issued Thursday by his media aide, Garba Shehu, described late Dr Ahmed as a man blessed with immense wisdom.

The president stated,“Dr Datti was at the forefront in providing healthcare to the poor and the needy.

“His divine teachings and selfless contribution towards the welfare of society will not be forgotten. He will be remembered for his noble service to society”.

We lost a true great Nigerian, a patriot – Ganduje

Kano State governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, condoles with the family of late Ibrahim Datti Ahmed, describing him as a true great Nigerian and a patriot.

A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Abba Anwar, said the great loss is not only for the people of Kano or Nigeria, but to the black race across the globe.

“The death is for the entire black race across the globe. Here was a man who stood firmly for the education of our people, who travelled far and wide in search of education and helped shape our education system.

 “On behalf of the government and people of Kano State, I am sending our condolences to the immediate families of this rare gem, whose upbringing was reflected in his own family. He raised a very decent, committed and God-fearing family.

 “May Almighty Allah save his face from hellfire. May Allah forgive all his shortcomings and reward his good deeds with Jannatul Fiddaus,” the governor said, urging all his family members to strive hard to follow his footsteps.

He fought for justice, equity, fairness –Tinubu 

The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in a condolence message by his Media Office on Thursday said: “I received the news of the death of Dr Ibrahim Datti Ahmed, elder-statesman and President of the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN), with deep sense of sorrow.

He said throughout his life, Dr Ahmed symbolised and fought for justice, equity and fairness, adding that his demise was a loss not only to the Muslim community in Nigeria but to all Nigerians.

“May Almighty Allah reward his good deeds, forgive his shortcomings, have mercy upon him and admit him and others who have gone before him into Aljannatul Firdaus, (Amin)” the message read.

Islam hit by the loss of two great scholarly figures – MURIC

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) in a statement by its Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, stated that Islam in Nigeria has been hit by the death of two foremost Islamic scholars, Professor Hussein Akande Abdul Kareem and Dr Ahmad Datti.

It stated that Prof. Abdul Kareem died in Lagos on December 26th, 2021 while Dr Ahmad Datti died in Kano on December 30th, 2021.

MURIC said: “Islamdom in Nigeria has been hit by the loss of two great scholarly figures that died within four days. 

“A pragmatic Muslim leader, Dr Datti encouraged Muslims to join politics in order to bring the teachings of Islam on probity, accountability and good governance to bear on politics and Muslim politicians. He practised what he taught by becoming an aspirant of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the early 90s.

“The death of these two giant Islamic scholars has left MURIC in deep grief. We are devastated. We pray that Almighty Allah will overlook their trespasses and repose their souls in Al-Jannah Firdaus. We also pray that Allah will give their families the fortitude needed to bear the losses”.

It was a huge loss for Nigeria – Atiku

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, expressed grief and sadness over the passing death of Dr Ibrahim Datti Ahmed.

Atiku in his condolence message said late Datti’s demise has left a huge vacuum in terms of wise counselling at a time the nation is being held hostage by some misguided criminal-minded persons with little or no knowledge of the religion (Islam) they cite as excuse to reign terror on law-abiding citizens.

His closest friend, Abba Adamu Koki, said; “This is a loss not for us who are close to him alone, but to the entire country at large and even Africa for we have lost a great man, someone who lived his life for others.

“He is the first person who opened a private hospital before others took lead just to contribute to the government’s effort in the health sector. He later turned his activities towards building Islamic religion and Muslims”.

His uncle, Bala Abubakar, prayed for his soul to rest in peace, describing him as a trustworthy and an honest person who lived on the right path while alive.

“It’s been six months, he was suffering from diabetes and later on issues of the bone came in due to age,” he said.

Renowned Islamic cleric, Mallam Ibrahim Khalil, while also praying and mourning the loss, said: “Until his death, he was the guardian of all his relatives and orphans in his family. He took care of their education, health and everything. He was an exceptional human being who lived life to greatness”.