Borno Governor and Chairman of Northern States Governors’ Forum, Kashim Shettima has expressed shock over the demise of retired Air Vice Marshall, Mukhtar Muhammad.
He recalled that the deceased, a foremost member of the Arewa Consultative Forum and founder of Freedom Radio broadcasting station, was one of the elder statesmen who ensured that quit notice to Igbos by Arewa youth was withdrawn.
Shettima, in a statement by his spokesman, Isa Gusau, said “This is shocking. Coming few months after the death of Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, the demise of AVM Mukhtar Muhammad is yet another big loss to the northern voice.
“AVM was a sound and eloquent statesman who cared about the competitiveness of the north in all affairs of the country.
“It was out of his genuine passion for northern Nigeria that he invested in the establishment of freedom radio even when radio broadcasting is not known to be a lucrative business but rather a social service.
“He wanted to open a station in Maiduguri in spite of our challenges. He was in Borno on different occasions to either lead or be part of delegations on issues relating to the challenges posed by Boko Haram and other issues concerning northern Nigeria.
“He was at the Borno lodge early last month when we had meetings with representatives of Northern elders and the coalition of Northern Groups over issues of National Unity and he contributed positively to that meeting.
“He always around whenever issues relating to the stability and progress of the north was in the front burner. He even offered to be available anytime there was need to bring together retired military officers to contribute in whatever ways in efforts to end the Boko Haram insurgency.
“He cared for the north, invested selflessly for the north and represented the north so efficiently in many respects. May Allah admit him into Aljanna Firdaus.
“My heart goes out to his family, the management and staff of Freedom Radio and our elders in northern Nigeria on yet another big loss. Inna lillahi wa Inna ilaihi Raajiun”
AVM Mukhtar Muhammad was also a one-time Minister of Housing and Urban Development, member of the Supreme Military Council, military Governor of Kaduna State, one of the representatives of Northern Nigeria at the 2014 constitutional conference and Chairman of Ahmadu Bello University Governing Council.
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