Black Weekend in Kwara as Dignitaries Grace Burial of Chief of Staff to Kwara Governor

Israel Adeleke 

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports that Chief of Staff to the Kwara State Governor, Prince Abdulkadir Mahe, who passed away after a brief illness at age 73 on Saturday, has been buried hours after he breathed his last, according to Islamic injunctions.

OTN News further reports that the burial was attended by thousands of people at his residence on Moro Street, Adewole Estate, Ilorin.

OTN News also reports that the Kwara state Governors, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and the senior government officials, Ahmed Usman Ododo (Kogi); bureaucrats, and clerics; community leaders; and family members among others graced the event.

Other dignitaries at the burial were the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Yakubu Salihu Danladi; Grand Kadi, Kwara State Shari’a Court of Appeal, Justice Abdullateef Kamaldeen; House of Representatives member Ahmed Yinka Aluko; Mutawalli Ilorin, Dr Alimi AbdulRazaq;

Chairmen Local Council for Ilorin West, South and East; Commandant Kwara NSCDC Umar Muhammed; Director General National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies, Professor Abubakar Suleiman; Non-Executive Director NNPCL Dr. Muhammed Gali Alaya; Taliba of Ilorin and Chairman, Governing Council/Pro-Chancellor of the Kwara State University of Education Professor Shuaib Oba Abdulraheem (OFR); Professor Abubakar Aliagan; and former PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Kawu Baraje; among others.

OTN News further reports that the prayer was led by Chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Soliu, who prayed to Allah to admit him to al-jannah Firdaus.

Speaking on who the late chief of staff is, Governor Abdulrazaq called the late Chief of Staff a pillar of support for the administration, saying he would be greatly missed.

“This is a great loss. He was a stabilising factor in our administration. He is a pillar of support for our administration. We will truly miss him. May Allah grant him Aljanat Fridaous,” the Governor told reporters on the sideline of the event.

OTN News recalls that the Kwara state Governors had earlier mourned the late chief of staff in a statement by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, describing Prince Mahe’s death as a tragic loss.

Meanwhile, Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo described Mahe as a peace-loving personality, and prayed to God to bless his soul.

“He was a peace loving personality. The entire family and the state in general will miss him. There is nothing we can say because from Him we come and unto Him we shall return. What we owe him now is prayer, and we will continue to pray for him,” he said.

Also, the Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu expressed profound sadness on the passing of Prince Abdulkadir.

He said “With total submission to the Will of Allah, we mourn the death of our father; Prince Abdulkadir Mahe, a distinguished public servant and an administrator par-excellence who served the legislative and executive arms of government meritoriously, surely this is a great loss to us all”

“We commiserate with the Emir of Ilorin, the Abdulkadir’s family, and the Emirate in general on the passing of illustrious Prince Mahe. We equally sympathise with His Excellency Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on the passing of his Chief of Staff, may Almighty Allah comfort them in this trying moment and beyond,” the Speaker added.

Futhermore, the Speaker, on behalf of the Kwara State House of Assembly, prayed to Allah to forgive the late Prince Abdulkadir Mahe and grant him Aljanat Fridaos.

Also, expressing sadness over the dead of the chief of staff, the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council, Mai-Martaba Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, expressed deep sadness over the demise of the late Chief of Staff.

According to Alhaji Sulu-Gambari, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona, "I receive the demise of Prince Mahe AbdulKadir with rude shock and surprise.”

The Emir described Alhaji Mahe as a diligent administrator and committed Prince of the Alimi dynasty. A colosal loss has befellen us in Ilorin Emirate.”

Alhaji Sulu-Gambari however commiserated with the wife and children of the deceased, Government and people of Kwara State especially, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the entire Shehu Alimi dynasty over the unfortunate incidence.

He also extended his sympathy to friends and associates of late Alhaji Mahe even as he prayed that Almighty Allah should forgive his shortcomings, accept his good deeds and admit him into Al-janatul firdaos.

The Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) who also expressed grief over the death of the Chief of Staff to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Prince Mahe AbdulKadir, described his death as a colossal loss.

In a condolence message jointly signed by the NUJ Chairman, Abdullateef ‘Lanre Ahmed, and Secretary, Mahmood Olayinka Alaya, the union noted that Prince Mahe’s passing came as a rude shock to the state and its people.

The statement described the late technocrat as a dedicated community leader and an exemplary public servant whose contributions to the development of Kwara State were invaluable.

The NUJ extended its heartfelt condolences to Governor AbdulRazaq, the Emir of Ilorin, Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari; the immediate family of the deceased, the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), and the people of the state.

While praying the Almighty Allah to forgive Prince Mahe of his earthly shortcomings and grant him Aljanat firdaus, the union emphasized that his legacy of dedication and service would remain a shining example for future leaders.

The Union however, recalled that Prince Mahe, a retired Permanent Secretary, bowed out of the state civil service many years ago as the Clerk of the state House of Assembly.

Similarly, National League of Veteran Journalists (NALVEJ) also mourned the passage of the chief of staff to Kwara State governor, Prince Mahe AbdulKadir. 

The league in a statement signed by its chairman, Alhaji Tunde Akanbi, and publicity secretary, Alhaji Abdullahi Olesin, described the deceased as a statesman and community leader who impacted positively on his people during his life time.

The body recalled Mahe’s contributions to the growth of Kwara State during his time in the state civil service, culminating in his appointment as a permanent secretary/ clerk of the state House of Assembly and later as chief of staff, Government House, Ilorin.

It commiserated with the state government, especially Governor AbdulRazaq over the demise of the chief of staff.

It equally commiserated with the immediate family of the deceased, the Emir of Ilorin, and the entire Alimi Dynasty over the demise of Prince Mahe.

The League however, prayed Allah to forgive and grant the deceased Aljanah Firdaus.

Prince Mahe was appointed the Chief of Staff on November 3rd, 2023, before which he had served as the Secretary to the State Government. Prince Mahe was a retired Permanent Secretary and Clerk of the Kwara State House of Assembly.

Prince Mahe was the eldest son of the 10th Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Aliyu Abdulkadir. He was appointed Chief of Staff about 17 months ago, succeeding the former Chief of Staff, Alhaji Adisa Logun, who also died in office about three years ago during the first term of the governor.