Ismaila Isa Funtua, a long time friend and ally of President Muhammadu Buhari, has died on Monday.
A close family source told DAILY NIGERIAN that Mr Funtua died of suspected cardiac arrest.
“Baba was hale and hearty around 6pm today. He even drove himself to see his doctor, after which he would go to the barbershop” a source, Mohammed Isah, disclosed.
He had planned to see his doctor before proceeding to go and barber his hair, preparatory to this incoming month of Zulhijja.
Muslims who intend to sacrifice ram are required not to cut their hair until after the eid prayer.
The 78-year-old Mr Funtua was a Second Republic minister and elder statesman.
He was believed to be an influential figure in the Buhari administration, and member of the cabal around the president.
He was the founder of Bulet International Nigeria Limited (the largest wholly owned indigenous construction company) which built most of the iconic public buildings in Abuja.
He was also the founding managing director of Democrat Newspaper and served as president of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria, NPAN, for 8 years.
