Vice-President Kashim Shettima has expressed profound grief over the passing of the Emir of Zuru in Kebbi, retired Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Sami (Gomo II).

The traditional ruler and a reputable retired military officer died on Saturday night in a London hospital, at the age of 81.

In a condolence message on Sunday in Abuja, Mr Shettima described the death of the royal father as a monumental loss to Nigeria’s traditional institution and military heritage.

Mr Shettima stated that the late highly revered emir was an eminent leader who exemplified the rare combination of military discipline, traditional wisdom, and community service that defined Nigeria’s post-independence leadership generation.

According to him, when the giant Iroko tree falls, the landscape itself is forever altered.

”Today, our traditional and military landscapes look markedly different without Maj.-Gen.Sami’s commanding presence that bridged two critical pillars of our national leadership structure.

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“Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Sami was not just an Emir or a military officer; he was a symbol of how diverse forms of leadership can unite to serve a common purpose – the betterment of one’s people and nation,” Mr Shettima said.

The vice-president recalled that the late emir’s military background brought a unique dimension to traditional governance.

Mr Shettima said the late emir’s strategic thinking and disciplined approach to leadership significantly enhanced the administrative efficiency of the Zuru Emirate.

He said, “On behalf of President Bola Tinubu, myself, and the entire government of Nigeria, I express our deepest condolences to the immediate and extended families of the late Emir, the Zuru Emirate Council, and the entire people of Kebbi.”

While offering prayers for the repose of the departed emir’s soul, Mr Shettima expressed confidence that his legacy would endure in the hearts and minds of those he served.

”I pray Almighty Allah to forgive his shortcomings and grant him Jannatul Firdaus.

”May Allah also grant his family, the Zuru Emirate Council, the government and people of Kebbi State, and indeed the entire nation the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” he prayed.

(NAN)