By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
Alhaji Isa Funtua, friend and confidant of President Muhammadu Buhari and a member of the Aso Rock inner circle is dead.
Funtua reportedly died on Monday of heart-related disease.
The news was broke a while ago by Bashir Ahmad, personal assistant on new media to President Buhari on his official Twitter page.
“Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un! Just heard about Mallam Ismaila Isa Funtua’s sudden death. This life! May Allah accept his soul, forgive his shortcomings and grant him Jannah al-Firdaus,” Ahmad wrote.
“This life is so unforeseeable! You will just be full of life and doing very fine, the next minute it will be people grieving over your demise. May Allah accept the souls of our departed beloved ones.”
Funtua, a journalist was the founding managing director of Kaduna-based defunct Democrat Newspaper.
A father in-law to one of the President’s daughters, Funtua, is also former president of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN).
Meanwhile, President Buhari is also mourning his friend.
A statement by Ahmad on his Twitter handle on Monday night read, “President @MBuhari condoles with family members, government and people of Katsina State on the passing of his longtime friend and associate, Mal. Ismaila Isa Funtua. The President prays to Allah for repose of his soul and to grant the family strength & fortitude to bear the loss.”