President Goodluck Jonathan has extended his heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Katsina State on the death of one of their most illustrious sons, and a former Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Muhammadu Dikko Yusuf.
President Jonathan also commiserated with Alhaji Yusuf’s family as well as the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) on the demise of the respected leader of the cultural and political association,Presidential Spokesman,Reuben Abati said in statement.
“The President shares their grief as they mourn the eminent Nigerian who served his country dutifully throughout his successful career in the Nigerian Police, and later on, as a political leader and elder statesman” ,Abati said.
“The President believes that MD Yusuf, as he was fondly called by his friends and associates, will long be remembered for his outstanding political courage and exemplary determination during Nigeria’s transition to democracy after years of military rule.”
President Jonathan recalled that as leader of the Grassroots Democratic Movement at that time, the late MD Yusuf embodied some of the best values of bravery and patriotism.
Jonathan prayed that Almighty Allah will grant his soul eternal rest and comfort all who mourn him.
M D Yusuf was an indomitable democrat – Buhari
Abuja, Nigeria, 02 April 2015: The President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari has described the death of the late Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Muhammadu Dikko Yusuf as a great loss to Nigeria’s democratic struggle.
Reacting to the demise of Yusuf in a statement in Abuja, the President-elect noted with deep regret that Yusuf died at a point his valuable advice was still badly needed by Nigerian leaders.
General Buhari recalled the role of M D Yusuf in Nigeria’s democratic struggle during the military politics of self-succession, which brought to the fore his courage to speak even if he was standing alone.
According to Buhari, despite the constriction of the democratic space, the late M D Yusuf was the only politician who established his own political party to challenge a military self-succession agenda.
General Buhari recalled that only an indomitable democrat like the late M D Yusuf could have taken that personal risk.
He prayed to Allah to forgive Yusuf’s shortcomings and reward his good deeds with Aljannah (Paradise).
M D Yusuf was courageous, sacrifices for democracy can’t be forgotten in a hurry – Atiku
Abuja, Nigeria, 02 April 2015: Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has extolled the extraordinary courage of the late Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Dikko Yusuf.
In a tribute to M D Yusuf in Abuja on Thursday, the former Vice President said the late senior police officer was one of the most courageous Nigerian politicians he had ever encountered.
According to Atiku, many politicians retreated to a safe distance when M D Yusuf established his own political party to challenge the military approved political parties to effectuate the self-succession agenda of 1998.
The former Vice President, who was part of that democratic struggle, said the late Yusuf’s sacrifices for democracy would not be forgotten in a hurry.
He noted that he was impressed by the late Yusuf’s courage of conviction, challenging a self-succession agenda when the democratic space was shut against contrary voices.
According to the former Vice President, the history of Nigeria’s democratic struggle would be incomplete without a prominent mention of the contributions of the late Mohammed Yusuf.
He prayed to Allah to forgive the soul of the deceased and reward his good deeds with paradise.
Mark mourns M.D. Yusuf
President of the Senate, Senator David Mark has sent a message of condolence to the government and people of Katsina state over the demise of a former Inspector General of Police (IGP) and foremost elder statesman Alhaji Muhammadu Diko Yusuf.
Late M.D . Yusuf as he was popularly called died in Abuja on Wednesday.
Senator Mark in the condolence message described late Yusuf as an exemplary police officer who promoted professionalism and discipline during his stint as the helmsman in the force .
” Late Yusuf was one police boss who ensured the protection of lives and properties of all citizens without compromise. He was a pan- Nigerian who built bridges of peace and unity. He believed and worked for the indivisibility of one Nigeria where all citizens are treated as equals”, he stated.
On his foray into politics, the President of the Senate noted that late Yusuf was a shining star on the political turf as the then founder and presidential candidate of Movement for Democracy and Justice (MDJ).
He noted that late Yusuf was a forthright nationalist who took the entire nation as his constituency pointing out the the late elder statesman was in the Forefront in the struggle for the return of democracy in the present political dispensation.
He canvassed that late Yusuf should be immortalized For his great services and contributions to the socio-economic and political development of Nigeria.
Senator prayed that the almighty God grant him eternal rest just as he told the bereaved family to take solace in the fact that late Yusuf left his positive footprint on the sand of time.