Nigeria Content Online

Those entrusted with leadership
positions in the country should see the circumstances surrounding the
death of frontline politician Abubakar Rimi as a wake up call on them
to offer selfless service to the people, Muhammadu Buhari, former
military head of state said yesterday in Kano.

He particularly pointed at the level of
insecurity in the polity as one area that must be accorded priority and
advised politicians to always strive to provide good governance at all
levels for the benefit of the masses.

Mr. Buhari spoke to journalists after
paying a condolence visit to the family of late Abubakar Rimi in his
residence at Durbin Katsina in kano yesterday.

“Nigerians are shock over the death of
Rimi especially the way it happened, it has further confirmed what
Nigerians already know about the physical and material insecurity in
the country,” he said.

“Despite of our potentialities of both
material and human resources, we are still lagging behind. It is a
challenge to the Nigerian elite to be very serious and take the issue
of governance in this country wholeheartedly.

“Because we have all the resources both
human and material, it is high time is used it to stabilise this
country, so that the country can realize its full potentials.”

The 2011 presidential hopeful described
late Rimi as a fulfilled politician who strived hard during his time in
ensuring that the living standard of the common man has been uplifted.

He buttressed that the people of Kano are living witnesses of what Rimi did during his tenure as the governor of the state.

“Rimi has held various positions, in
kano here he was the governor he didn’t disappoint the people of the
state. He performed both in the rural areas and the city even with the
meager resources available then his legacies are still there for people
to see, the people of kano can bear him witness of his performance.
Until his death he has been championing the cause of the masses.”

Shocking death

In his tribute, former head of state Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida said the death of Rimi came to him as a shock.

“I’m shock like any other Nigerian, is
a great lost to Nigeria, he was a very discipline person, and we have
lost one of our best patriotic citizen. He lived and practiced a very
decent politics I hope those who are coming after him would emulate his
good qualities. Is a great loss may his soul rest in peace.”

On his part, former Vice president and
2007 Action Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, described
the late Rimi as one of the strongest pillars of democracy Nigeria has
lost.

“I have known Rimi as a
pre-independence front line politician, a post independence front line
politician and a grass rooter,” he said.

“He is one of the strongest pillars of democracy in this country it
is a huge loss for the growth and sustenance of democracy in this
country may his soul rest in peace.”