…Kachikwu, Misau, others pay tribute

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, last week, stated that the remains of the mother of its Group Managing Director, Mr. Maikanti Baru, Hajiya Fatima Baru, has been laid to rest in her hometown of Misau in Bauchi State.

According to a statement by the NNPC, Hajiya Fatima Baru, who passed on at the age of 102 on Thursday evening after a brief illness, was committed to mother earth shortly after the Muslim funeral rite led by the Chief Imam of Misau, Malam Manu Mohammed, at the Misau Central Mosque,.

The NNPC stated that the deceased, popularly known by family members and relatives as Hajiya Umma, left behind five children and over fifty grandchildren.

Ibe kachikwu

Speaking during a condolence visit on the NNPC boss, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, commiserated with the entire Baru household, urging Baru to particularly take solace in the fact that the deceased had lived a fulfilled life.

Also speaking Senator Isa Hamma Misau, who said he received the news of the deceased’s death with shock, described her as a mother to all. NNPC’s Chief Operating Officer, Upstream, Mr. Bello Rabiu, who spoke on behalf of NNPC Management after the burial commiserated with the GMD over the irreparable loss.

In his response, the NNPC boss, Mr. Maikanti Baru thanked everyone for identifying with him in his trying time and prayed Allah to grant them safe trip back to their respective destinations.

In the statement signed by its Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, the NNPC stated that thousands of sympathizers thronged the Misau Central Mosque where they prayed for the repose of the deceased’s soul, after which she was interned at the Misau Cemetery amidst prayers.

It noted that from traditional rulers, captains of industry and top government functionaries to Misau indegenes, family friends, relatives and associates of the GMD, the funeral attracted a large turnout of sympathizers from far and near.

Among those sympathizers, the NNPC said, were the Emir of Misau, Alhaji Ahmed Suleiman; Senator representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, Isa Hamma Misau and the Wakilin Bauchi, Hon. Yakubu Shehu, who represented the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu.

Other dignitaries at the funeral were the Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Alh. Garba Baba Umar; the Director, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr. Mordecai Ladan as well as a large delegation from the NNPC Top Management.