…Buhari mourns, sends presidential jet to evacuate her remains
The only surviving wife of Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, late Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, is dead.
Hajiya Jummai Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, died of cardiac arrest on Sunday in Lagos.
It was learnt that she was taken to India to seek medical attention for her heart disease before she was later discharged some days ago.
It was further learnt the late Hajiya Jummai died in Lagos in the early hours of Sunday after a protracted illness.
Granddaughter of the late Prime Minister, Hajiya Hajara Yakubu Wanka, confirmed the development, saying she died of cardiac arrest.
Wanka in an interview confirmed that the deceased had stopped over in Lagos to rest before returning to Bauchi.
According to her, she passed away in the early hours of Sunday after she went into a coma.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the family of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, the late Prime Minister, on the loss of Hajiya Jummai Abubakar, Balewa’s last surviving wife, who died on Sunday at the age of 85, even as the president approved presidential jet for her evacuation from Lagos to Bauchi.
The President’s condolence message is communicated through a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Sunday.
In the message sent through the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, President Buhari said: “It was with the deepest sense of sorrow that I have learnt of the tragic demise of Hajiya Jummai Tafawa Balewa.
“In her sad demise, Nigeria has lost an outstanding political figure, who was passionately committed to the cause of the family and the legacies of her late husband.
“I convey my heartfelt condolences to members of the bereaved family, the government and people of Bauchi State and the entire people of our dear country. May Allah repose her soul.”
Meanwhile, President Buhari has directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, to make an aircraft from the Presidential fleet available for the evacuation of the remains of the deceased from Lagos, where she died in a private hospital, to Bauchi.
The remains of the late prime minister’s wife, who died at the age of 85, will be committed to mother earth in Bauchi on Monday.
