Eminent personalities including the Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Emir of Ilorin,Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu- Gambari and the speaker of the State House of Assembly, have extolled the virtues of the Sarkin Gobir of Ilorin and chairman, International Aviation College, Ilorin, Captain Muhammad Yusuf-Gobir who died last Sunday at the age of 62.
Other notable personalities that paid their last respect to Yusuf- Gobir are the director general of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies ( NILDS), Abuja, Prof Abubakar Sulaiman and the group managing director of KAM Holdings Ltd, Ilorin, Alhaji Kamoru Yusuf.
Governor AbdulRazaq, in a statement signed by his chief press secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye said: " We are sad to announce the death of the Ilorin Aviation College Chairman and Sarkin Gobir of Ilorin Emirate Captain Muhammad Ahmad Yusuf-Gobir.
" We submit to the dictate of Allaah, who gives, nurtures, and takes life, and send our profound condolences to the people of Ilorin Emirate and especially the family of the revered title holder on this devastating development.
" Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq deems the death of the Aviation College chairman, who was his childhood friend, as a personal loss."
AbdulRazaq commended the deceased's legacies as an illustrious technocrat and administrator who has supervised an impressive turnaround of the Aviation College within a very short time.
The Emir of Ilorin, Alh brahim Sulu-Gambari, in a statement signed by his spokesman, Mal. Abdulaziz Arowona described Yusuf- Gobir as a gentle and loyal traditional chief who used his wealth of experience to unite the people within his domain and beyond.
"Sulu-Gambari expressed sadness but accepted the unfortunate incidence with total submission to the will of Almighty Allah," the statement said.
The Emir commiserated with the people of Ilorin Emirate, immediate and extended family members of the deceased, government and people of Kwara State over the demise of Sarkin Gobir.
For his part, the speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Engr. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu commiserated with the Emir of Ilorin, Governor AbdulRazaq and the Gobir family over the death of Yusuf-Gobir.
Danladi-Salihu described the death of Sarkin Gobir as a colossal loss, not only to Ilorin Emirate, the governor, and the Gobir family but also to the entire people of the state.
"It is with heavy heart, that we mourn the death of Captain Muhammad Ahmad Yusuf-Gobir, the Sarkin Gobir of Ilorin Emirate. His death is a great loss to us all," the speaker said in a statement signed by his chief press secretary, AbdulKadir Yusuf.
"We commiserate with His Royal Highness the Emir of Ilorin on the loss of one of his loyal traditional chief, Governor AbdulRazaq on the demise of one of his dependable friend and appointee and the Gobir family on the death of one of their illustrious sons, may Allah forgive Captain Yusuf-Gobir and admit him into Aljanat Fridaos, Ameen," he added.
The speaker urged the Gobir family to take solace in the worthy legacies that their patriarch left behind.
The director general of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies( NILDS), Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, described the death of Sarkin Gobir Ilorin, as big blow too painful to bear emotionally.
Sulaiman expressed deepest sorrow on the demise of Sarkin Gobir, in a condolence message signed by his media adviser, Mohammad AbdulKadir.
He said Yusuf- Gobir would be greatly missed in many ways for his wise counsel and as an active participant in the affairs of the state and, in particular, the socio- cultural, religious, and traditional activities of Ilorin Emirate .
Sulaiman, who described the deceased as a perfect gentleman prayed to Almighty Allah to forgive his shortcomings.
He commiserated with Governor AbdulRazaq, the Emir of Ilorin, the bereaved family and the entire people of Ilorin Emirate over the demise of Yusuf-Gobir.
Sulaiman prayed to Allah to grant the bereaved families and associates of the deceased the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
In his condolence message, the group managing director of KAM Holdings Ltd, Alh Kamoru Yusuf, expressed grief over the passing of Sarikin Gobir.
He described the transition of the traditional chief as tragic and painful, adding that Sarikin Gobir departed at a time that he was giving his best to the services of Ilorin Emirate and Kwara State in general.
In a statement he personally signed, Yusuf noted that the exit of Sarikin Gobir had thrown Ilorin Emirate into deep mourning, considering his selfless services to humanity.
Yusuf said the deceased would be remembered as a Kwaran, " who etched his footprints in the sands of time, especially his quest to turn Ilorin Aviation College to a hub of human and technical resources in the aviation industry."
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"The passing of the Sarikin Gobir of Ilorin in a time like this is very painful, looking at the fact that he contributed significantly to the peace and stability of the Ilorin Emirate. Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf- Gobir is not just a traditional chief but one with class, who made his mark at any given opportunity as a community leader.
"His pragmatism in the committee of Ilorin Emirate Durbar where he served diligently since the time the committee was constituted would not be forgotten in a hurry. The contributions of the late traditional chief also accounted for the successes recorded in the annual fiesta.
"We are also aware that he performed creditably well as the chairman, Governing Council of International Aviation College, Ilorin. He etched his footprints in the sands of time with his insatiable quest to turn around the fortune of that institution, thus turning it to a hub of human and technical resources in the aviation industry. He would sorely be missed," Yusuf said.
Yusuf commiserated with Governor AbdulRazaq, the Emir of Ilorin, and the Gobir family over the demise of Sarikin Gobir, praying the Almighty Allah to forgive him of his earthly inadequacies.
