Presidency confirms death of 2 members of President Buhari’s extended family; Atiku sends condolences to Buhari, Buratai

By Ismaila Chafe & Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Presidency on Saturday confirmed the death of two members of President Muhammadu Buhari’s extended family in Daura, Katsina state.
A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja, said the two senior members of the family died within a few hours of one another.
According to Shehu, one of the deceased persons, Hajiya Halima Dauda, was the President’s niece and younger sister to his close associate and nephew Malam Mamman Daura.
Halima Dauda, aged 56, who has since been buried in Daura, left behind 10 children, including one of President Buhari’s Personal Assistants, Mohammed Sabi’u Tunde.
The presidential aide revealed that the burial was attended by a federal government delegation led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari.
Others on the team were the Minister of State, Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika; three Senior Special Assistants to the President, Sarki Abba, Ya’u Darazo and Garba Shehu; the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ahmed Abubakar.
Others included the State Chief of Protocol, Amb. Lawal Kazaure, the Permanent Secretary, State House Jalal Arabi, Alhaji Isma’ila Isa and Sayyu Dantata both of them businessmen.
The Buhari family had earlier on buried Hajiya Ai’sha Alhaji Mamman on Friday. She was the wife of the President’s older brother, Alhaji Mamman.
Receiving condolences on behalf of the Buhari family, Malam Mamman, thanked God for the lives of the deceased and all the visitors for sharing the moment of grief with them.
Shehu disclosed that among those received by the family in Daura were Gov. Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu and a former Military Governor of Kaduna State, retired Brig.-Gen. Jafaru Isa.

Meanwhile, Former Vice President Abubakar Atiku, has commiserated with President Buhari over the passing away of his sister-in-law, Hajiya Aisha Mamman.
In a statement through his Twitter handle on Saturday, Atiku, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also commiserated with the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai over the demise of his father and World War II Veteran, Malam Yusuf Buratai.
“On behalf of the Abubakar Atiku family, I commiserate with President Buhari over the passing on of his sister-in-law, Hajiya Aisha Mamman.
“May Allah grant her Aljannah Firdaus, and grant the Danbaffale Mamman family in Daura the fortitude to bear the loss. Amen.”
Atiku added: “Malam Yusuf Buratai, a World War II Veteran and father of COAS Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai will be remembered for his services to keep country and the world safe and united.”