President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness on the passing away of the paramount ruler of the Tiv people of Benue State, the Tor Tiv, Alfred Akawe Torkula, and a minister of defence in the first republic, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Wada.

In separate condolences, the president commiserated with the immediate families, friends and associates of the deceased, the governments and people of Benue and Kano States and urging them to take solace in the knowledge that the departed distinguished Nigerians lived well and contributed significantly to the development of not only their states but the country in general.

President Buhari in a statement issued by his special adviser on media, Femi Adesina, noted that the fourth Tor Tiv was a great advocate of peace and unity during his 24-year reign. He therefore urged his subjects to maintain the existing peace during and after the succession process.

On Wada, the president recalled with pride his active years as a renowned teacher, parliamentarian and minister up until his post-political career as a foremost transporter and industrialist.

Adesina added that the president prays that God Almighty grants rest to the souls of the two senior citizens whose wisdom and fatherly counsel would certainly be missed by the current crop of leaders in the country.

The former defence minister in the first republic and former presidential candidate under the platform of the NRC party, Alhaji Inuwa Wada, passed on at the age of 106, last Wednesday night.

Inuwa Wada died at his residence in Durumin Iya quarters, municipal Kano, and was buried according to Islamic rites at Kiki or Mayanka burial ground.

The emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi, led the funeral prayer that took place at the city’s central mosque at 4:00pm yesterday.

His burial procession has been delayed for hours until thousands of people, family members, government functionaries, his former students and those he mentored and trained converged at his house.

Majority of the high flying people in the state attended the burial ceremony. Those outside Kano were given enough time to arrive to be part of the burial.

Inuwa Wada was a famous politician and held the traditional title of Magajin Garin Kano until his death.

He was among very few last men standing that have held government positions in the time of regional governments.