Kaduna — The remains of Makaman Nupe Alhaji Shehu Ahmadu Musa, who died in a London hospital in the early hours of yesterday, are being expected in Nigeria today preparatory to his burial. Alhaji Shehu was the Secretary to the Federal Government (SFG) when Alhaji Shehu Shagari was the president in the Second Republic. He died of kidney-related ailments, according to family sources.

The late Makama's daughter Hajiya Aisha Musa Liman, who is the manager of Skye Bank, Kaduna Main Branch, told Daily Trust last night that her father's remains are expected to arrive at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja today, after which a Muslim funeral will follow in his hometown, Bidda in Niger State. The Makama was a very senior councillor in the Etsu Nupe's council.

Hajiya Aisha was full of praises for the Nigerian High Commissioner in London Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida, who she said paid very close attention to her father's deteriorating health up until he died. She said Tafida, himself a medical doctor, even took part in the diagnosis and treatment of Alhaji Shehu. Incidentally, Tafida was the Personal Physician to President Shehu Shagari when Musa was SFG, the post now known as Secretary to the Government of the Federation [SGF].

Another family member who described himself as a cousin of the deceased, said the family was in contact with the Nigerian High Commission in London and that the Makama's remains will be brought to Nigeria by the next available flight from London. He said the late Makama's children who are in Abuja and other places have been contacted and they have arrived at the deceased's Kaduna residence on Inuwa Wada Road. Many of them were already seen around when Daily Trust first visited the family house at 12 noon yesterday.

The atmosphere was solemn and only a few friends, family members and relatives as well as officials of Skye bank were in the house as at 4pm yesterday. The main receiving of condolences is usually delayed until after the funeral.

Alhaji Shehu Musa was born at Bidda, present-day Niger State on January 16, 1935. He attended Bida South Elementary School from 1943 to 1947 and Bidda Middle School in 1948. Thereafter, he went to Zaria Secondary School, now known as Barewa College, from 1949 to 1954.

Afterwards, the Makaman Nupe attended Nigeria College of Arts, Science and Technology, Zaria between 1955 and 1957. From 1957 to 1960, he was at the University College Ibadan, which later became the University of Ibadan, before proceeding to the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis in the United States between 1962 and 1963.

Alhaji Shehu Musa started his career as a Senior Auditor in the Audit Department of Northern Region in 1963. Two years later, he converted to the federal civil service and became a Senior Assistant Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Finance from 1965 to 1967.

Between 1967 and 1971, he was the Administrative Secretary of the Board of Customs and Excise. From 1971 to 1974, he was a deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Defence. Afterwards, he was made a permanent secretary in the Finance Ministry. Five years later, he was appointed Secretary to the Federal Government by Alhaji Shehu Shagari.

Alhaji Shehu Musa chaired the boards of many private and government-owned companies as well as commissions. In particular, he was the chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC) which conducted the successful 1991 census. He was also chairman of the Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company, member of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation's (NNPC) board, Chairman of R.T Briscoe and Chairman of Alumaco. He was also a consultant to The Guardian newspapers since 1985.

In the stillborn Third Republic, the Makaman Nupe briefly ventured into partisan politics when he contested for the presidency on the platform of the National Republican Convention (NRC). More recently, he was an INEC Federal Commissioner in 1998-2003.

He was a recipient of Honorary Doctorate degrees from the Universities of Jos and Calabar, a national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic, and the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. In addition, he was given an award of excellence by the Nigeria Institute of Physics and a certificate of honour by the Islamic Studies Centre, Bida. He is survived by three wives and several children.

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) yesterday mourned the death of Alhaji Shehu Musa, praying to Allah to give the family, friends and the entire nation the fortitude to bear the loss. In a text message sent to Daily Trust, its publicity secretary Mr Anthony Sani said "no one can trade places with the void he leaves in the lives of those behind."

According to him, the best way to sustain the deceased's legacy is "to apply his values, purpose of governance and approaches to leadership in our day-to-day ways of life."

He prayed to Allah to grant the late Makaman Nupe eternal rest.

Director General for Media and Publicity in the Niger State Government House Malam Bala Abdulkadir said yesterday that Makama's death was a great loss to the state.

"The death of Alhaji Shehu Musa is not only a big loss to Niger state but a great loss to the entire country. He was among personalities that have made us proud in the state and we shall miss him", he said.