Malam Isma’ila Isa Funtua, mni longtime friend and associate of President Muhammadu Buhari is dead.
Buhari said in a statement that he received the news of his associate’s death Monday evening with deep sadness.
There was however no official word about the cause of his death.
Senior Special Assistant to the President,Garba Shehu who announced his reaction to the incident said Buhari “received with deep sadness on Monday evening information on passing of his longtime friend and associate, Malam Isma’ila Isa Funtua, who was Life Patron of International Press Institute and Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN).”
The President, he added, condoles with family members, government and people of Katsina State, and all associates of the former President of NPAN, especially the media industry, on the loss, describing him as “greatly admired and respected’’.
According to Shehu, Buhari believes “the demise of the publisher and businessman has created a huge gap as Malam Funtua consistently stood by him in his political journey.”
The President prayed to Allah for repose of Malam Funtua’s soul, and to grant the family strength and fortitude to bear the loss.
