President Muhammadu Buhari has described late retired Air Vice Marshal Mukhtari Mohammed as “one of the finest, most principled, patriotic and loyal military officers’’ he had ever known and respected.
President Buhari stated this in a condolence message issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Monday.
The president also described late Mr Mohammed, one-time Military Administrator of Kaduna State and Chairman of Freedom Radio Kano, as a fountain of inspiration who loved the progress of Nigeria at all times.
“AVM Mohammed was so passionately committed to his principles and beliefs that he had to leave his military career earlier than expected on account of those principles.
“Very few Nigerians are ready to lose their jobs or offices on account of their beliefs, but the late Mohammed was an exception to this ugly reality of Nigeria, a society where public office holders respect power more than principles,’’ he said.
The president also recalled the significant role played by the late Air Force Officer in the realization of his people’s desire for the creation of the present Jigawa State.
He extended his condolences to the government, the family and people of Jigawa and Kano States over the loss of this illustrious public figure.
President Buhari prayed to Allah to forgive his gentle soul.
Late Mr Muhammad, who was the Wazirin Dutse in Jigawa, died on Sunday in a London hospital after a protracted illness.
He was also the first Governor of Kaduna State, after its creation in 1977, by the defunct military administration of Olusegun Obasanjo.
