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Tinubu, Others Mourn as Emir of Ningi Laid to Rest |
The remains of the late Emir of Ningi, Alhaji Yunusa Mohammed Danyaya, have been buried in Ningi, Bauchi State.
He passed away on Sunday morning at a hospital in Kano, just two days after returning from a medical trip to Saudi Arabia. The Emir was 88 years old and had spent 47 years on the throne.
The funeral prayer, led by the Chief Imam of Ningi, Dr. Muhammad Umar, took place at the Emir’s Palace in Ningi. Thousands of mourners attended, including Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, former governors Ahmadu Mu’azu (Bauchi) and Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Senator Abdul Ningi, Emir of Bauchi Alhaji Rilwamu Suleimanu Adamu, as well as national and state lawmakers.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu described the late Emir as an illustrious leader who used his position to serve his community. In a statement by his spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu prayed for the repose of the Emir’s soul and extended condolences to his family and all those grieving the loss.
Governor Bala praised the late Emir for his life of selfless service, offering counsel and fatherly guidance for the peace, unity, and development of the state. He described the Emir as a father figure who demonstrated exemplary leadership, fostering unity and progress not only within the Ningi Emirate and Bauchi State but across the country.
Residents of Ningi expressed that Emir Danyaya’s death has left an irreplaceable void in their hearts. They remembered him as a man of peace, wisdom, and immense dedication to the welfare of his people.
Professor Fatima Tahir, Vice Chancellor of Sa’adu Zungur University, described the late Emir as a symbol of wisdom, leadership, and cultural heritage.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi State Council, also commiserated with the state government, recalling the Emir’s contributions to the growth and development of traditional institutions in northern Nigeria and his relentless efforts in ensuring peace, harmony, and mutual understanding among the three tiers of government.
Born in 1936, the Emir had an illustrious career before ascending the throne in 1978. He attended Ningi Elementary School from 1941 to 1946, Bauchi Middle School from 1946 to 1951, and the School of Hygiene in Kano the same year. He later earned a diploma in Public Administration from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
During the Native Authority (NA) period, he had a distinguished working record, starting as a dispenser at Nasaru Dispensary in Ningi. He was a member of the Ningi Emirate Council from 1956 to 1960, a counselor for the Medical and Health Department from 1958 to 1959, and a member of the Ningi NA Outer Council between 1954 and 1956.
