Jonathan, Tambuwal, Okonjo-Iweala, Others Condole With El Rufai Over Son’s Death
President Goodluck Jonathan has commiserated with former Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Malam Nasir el‑Rufai, over the death of his son, Hamza.
El‑Rufai had announced on his Facebook page at about 8.00a.m. that Hamza died in a motor accident,Tuesday morning, in Abuja.
Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal; Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo‑ Iweala and Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka; chairman, Economic and financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki were among the first callers to the Aso Drive, Abuja residence of erstwhile Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Mallam Nasir El‑ Rufai to commiserate with him over the death of his son, Hamza.
Also at El‑ Rufai’s No. 12, Mambilla, Aso drive residence to sympathise with him were former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Lawal Uwais, former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Audu Ogbe, ex ‑ Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri, among other Nigerians.
Nasir El‑Rufai , a chieftain of APC lost his son yesterday in a car crash, the second child to die in three years. Hamza El‑Rufai died on Tuesday morning in Abuja and he was buried at Gudu Cemetery in the nation’s capital city according to Islamic rites.
El‑Rufai who broke the unfortunate news on his faceboook page at about 8am, said, “From Allah we came and to Him we shall return. Please join our family in praying for the repose of the soul of my son Hamza El‑Rufai who died this morning in a motor accident in Abuja.”
Hamza attended the University of Virginia and the United World College of the Atlantic, according to information on his Facebook page.
The former minister had in November 25, 2011 lost his eldest daughter, Yasmine who suddenly passed away in her London apartment
The 25‑year‑old Yasmine was said to have suffered neurological attack while leaving her bathroom and was unable to reach her medicine on time.
The late Yasmine had a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Bath, UK and a master’s degree from the London School of Economics . She also had a law degree from the University of London.
Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Mukhtar Ramalan Yero and his Ogun State counterpart, Senator Ibikunle Amosun have also, expressed deep sadness over the tragic death of Hamza.
A statement by Dr Reuben Abati, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, said Jonathan received the news with “a deep sense of grief and shock.
“On behalf of himself, his family and the Federal Government, Jonathan extends his heartfelt commiserations to Malam el‑Rufai and all members of the el‑Rufai family.
“The President says, although, no amount of words can fill the deep gap created by the loss of Hamza, the outpouring of support by friends and associates will comfort El‑Rufai.
“Jonathan prays for the peaceful repose of the soul of the departed and also for God=s blessing, comfort and protection for El‑Rufai and the rest of his family==, the statement said.
Meanwhile, in a condolence message signed by the Director General, Media and Publicity, to Governor Yero, Malam Ahmed Maiyaki, he said he received news of the death of Hamza with shock and profound grief.
His words: “The demise of Hamza; a young intelligent young man with bright prospects is a huge loss to the entire country, especially to us in Kaduna State.
“I urge the entire El‑Rufai family; friends and associates to take solace in the fact that the late Hamza lived a short but eventful life full of positive narrations.”
On his part, Governor Amosun in a release by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Olufunmilayo Wakama, described the demise of young Hamzat, a graduate of University of Virginia and United World College of the Atlantic, who died in an auto crash in Abuja, as “most regrettable and unfortunate.”
“It is so sad that his life was cut short in a fatal accident at a time he would have been contributing his quota to the development of his father land after acquiring a good education”, he added.
The governor prayed Allah to grant the soul of the departed Aljanah Fridaus and the family he left behind the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
