By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday eulogised two prominent Nigerians – Sam Nda-Isaiah and Sheikh Ahmed Lemu.
Nda-Isaiah, publisher of Leadership newspapers, passed on last week, while the death of Lemu, an Islamic cleric, was announced on Thursday.
President Buhari said the good family name left by Nda-Isaiah, is worth more than gold, and urged the family to do whatever it takes to uphold it.
In a letter he wrote to the bereaved family, Buhari said: “On behalf of the Federal Government and my family, I sincerely express my condolence on the sudden transition of my friend and ally, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, Publisher of Leadership Newspapers.
“Indeed, Sam’s untimely passage filled me with shock and sadness to the point that I was lost for words when the news reached me.
“He will be sorely missed by me, his family, friends and associates as he was a massive fish gone out of the media ocean and the political arena, where he displayed rare candour and courage.
“I, therefore, condole with the Nda-Isaiah family, media fraternity and all who mourn this man of conviction, a resolute and dogged believer in a better country. Nigeria has no doubt lost an exemplary gentleman.
“May God Almighty console Sam’s grieving family, friends and associates and grant his soul peaceful rest.”
The President’s letter was delivered to Sam’s younger brother and the head of the family, Abraham Nda-Isaiah by his personal staff, Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity; Sarki Abba, Senior Special Assistant, Domestic and Social Affairs; and the State Chief of Protocol, Ambassador Lawal Kazaure.
In the same vein, President Buhari described the late Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmed Lemu as “an outstanding scholar, jurist, teacher and author who was endowed with knowledge of encyclopedic proportion.”
Reacting to the demise of Lemu announced on Thursday, the President said that “with the death of Lemu, Nigeria and indeed Africa, has lost one of its greatest scholars of all time.”
President Buhari described the late Lemu as “one of the moderating voices of Islam who used wisdom in spreading knowledge, thereby portraying the religion in the brightest light.”
According to the President, “the late Lemu’s contributions to religious education and the promotion of inter-faith dialogue and understanding were immeasurable.”
President Buhari also praised what he called “Sheikh Lemu’s incredible humility and modesty,” adding that the “pursuit of scholarship and knowledge was his primary preoccupation rather than material things of this world.”
“May Allah abundantly reward Lemu for his contributions to Islam and the promotion of inter-faith dialogue and understanding in our country during his worthy life on earth. May Almighty God forgive his gentle soul and reward his noble needs with aljanna. May God comfort his family at this trying time. Amin,” the President prayed.