By Olatunbosun Obafemi
President Bola Tinubu received a rousing welcome in Kano on Friday as he visited the ancient city to pay his respects to the late business magnate, Aminu Dantata, who passed away recently at the age of 94.
The President was met at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, and other top officials.
The late Dantata, a revered industrialist and philanthropist, died on June 28 in Abu Dhabi and was buried in Madina, Saudi Arabia, in accordance with his wishes. Tinubu’s visit to the family home in Koki Quarters was marked by an outpouring of emotion and admiration for the late elder statesman.
Describing Dantata as “a titan of integrity, humility, and generosity,” Tinubu said the visit was deeply personal. “He wasn’t just a respected figure; he was family,” the President remarked, recalling how Dantata had offered him prayers and counsel during the 2023 presidential campaign.
The President praised Dantata’s lifelong dedication to service and compassion, calling him “the conscience of our country.” He extended condolences to the family, the people of Kano, and the nation, praying for the late patriarch’s soul to find eternal rest in Aljannah Firdaus.
Governor Yusuf expressed appreciation for Tinubu’s visit and previous support, noting the President’s role in facilitating Dantata’s funeral rites in Saudi Arabia. He also acknowledged the federal delegation Tinubu had dispatched earlier, led by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The late businessman’s eldest son, Alhaji Tajudeen Dantata, thanked the President for his unwavering support and described the relationship between Tinubu and his father as genuine and long-standing.
The President was accompanied by a high-powered delegation, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, ministers, state governors, and prominent figures like Alhaji Aliko Dangote and elder statesman Tanko Yakassai.
The visit marked a solemn yet heartfelt moment, as the President and nation paid tribute to one of Nigeria’s most respected patriarchs.
