Tears, eulogies flow at Isyaku Rabi’u’s burial in Kano

Late Khalifah Isyaku Rabi’u, a renowned Kano business mogul and Islamic scholar, was buried yesterday at Shiekh Isyaku Rabi’u Juma’at Mosque, at a funeral attended by a massive crowd, Daily Trust Saturday can report. 

The late scholar died on Tuesday in a London hospital after a protracted illness, at the age of 93. The corpse was conveyed to Kano from the United Kingdom yesterday in a BUA aircraft. The plane landed at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) at exactly 7:15am. The corpse, accompanied by the deceased’s children and relatives, was received by the Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

Governor Ganduje then led the crowd to residence of the deceased, at Goron Dutse, where the burial arrangements were carried out. Later in the day, the governor returned to MAKIA and received Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who visited to condole with Ganduje, the Emir of Kano, and the family of late Isyaku Rabi’u. 

The Vice President and his entourage went straight to the emir’s palace from MAKIA, condoled with the emir, and then moved to the residence of the late scholar where they condoled with the Rabi’u family, as well.

The funeral prayer was conducted at Sheikh Isyaka Rabi’u Juma’at mosque at exactly 2:30pm. The congregational prayer was led by Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Siesie, the grandson of late Sheikh Ibrahim Nyass. 

The corpse, accompanied by prominent personalities, including governors, traditional leaders, community leaders and Islamic scholars, among others, was later moved to the grave, dug within the premises of the mosque, inside the deceased’s home, and buried.

Governors of Kano, Jigawa, Sokoto and Niger states, were among the personalities who attended the funeral prayer. Others are APC National Leader, Bola Ahmed Tinibu, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, former Vice President, Namadi Sambo, Chief of Army Staff Lt-Gen. TY Buratai, Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar II, and Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi ll.

Daily Trust also gathered that the wife of the president, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, and wife of Sokoto State governor, Hajiya Mariya Tambuwal, paid a condolence visit to the family of the late scholar. 

Late Rabi’u was born on the 9th of October 1925, to the family of an Islamic scholar, Muhammad Rabi’u Dan Tinki. Isyaku’s religious upbringing influenced his development as a young man, and as a youth, he embraced Islamic scholarship and was popularly known as a Malam before he later got the title of Kahlifah of Tijjaniyya in Africa.

The deceased is survived by his wives, 42 children, and many grand and great-grand children. Among his children are Alhaji Nafiu Rabi’u, an influential Nigerian businessman; Abdulsamad Rabi’u, Chairman of BUA Group; Rabi’u Rabi’u, owner of IRS Airlines, and others.