BUT for former head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, bereaved General Ibrahim Babangida would not have witnessed the lowering of the remains of his deceased wife, Maryam, into the grave early on Wednesday.


Immediately after the fidau was said, scores of youths lifted the remains of Maryam, chorusing Allahu Akbar and headed for the grave, dug near the IBB mosque within the family house in Minna.


The youth and the corpse were followed by prominent Nigerians, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed; Governor Mu’azu Aliyu of Niger State; former governor of the state, Alhaji Abdulkhadir Kure; FCTA Minister, Alhaji Adamu Aliero; Lt Gen Mohammed Wushishi, among others.


Mohammed and Aminu Babangida were also among those at the graveside for the burial. General Babangida was transfixed as the body was led for burial until General Abubakar brought him back to life and they both went to the graveside, where the remains had already been lowered.


The two daughters of the deceased, Aisha Shinkafi and Halimatu Babangida, were not present at the fidau and interment done according to Islamic injunction. The fidau, which lasted less than three minutes was led by the Chief Imam of Minna, Alhaji Isah Fari.


After the lowering of the body and covering up with sand, mixed concrete was also poured on it before some television cameramen were invited to record the prayer session which lasted longer than the fidau.


The funeral train returned to the IBB courtyard, not through the way they carried the corpse for burial, and after almost a dozen Imams led special prayers for the repose of the soul of the deceased, an event that lasted till about 1.55 a.m. on Wednesday.


The fidau, according to the Nigerian Tribune findings, was shifted from the El-amin International School to the IBB compound at the instance of the former military president, who was reported to have been shocked at the large number of people that received him at the Minna Airport at 5.55 p.m. on Tuesday and an equally large gathering waiting for him and the remains of Maryam at their residence.


Babangida was, therefore, said to have instructed that the burial time and venue for the fidau be changed, resulting in the event which commenced at 12.15 a.m.


When the body arrived at about 11.30 p.m., it was secretly taken to the El-amin International School for religious bathing and preparation. Only Aminu and the son-in-law of General Babangida were reported to be there, when two women performed the duty.


Instead of the body being taken through the short route to the Babangidas’ residence, it was conveyed through a longer route and brought into the IBB compound through another gate, all in a bid not to attract too much attention.


Despite the change in time, many sympathisers still attended the funeral which went on very smoothly. Nigerian Tribune investigations revealed that some Nigerians who did not know that the funeral had taken place still travelled to Minna on Wednesday only to receive the news that everything was over.


However, General Babangida has continued to receive visitors. Delta State and Osun State governors, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, as well as members of the National Assembly were also present.


All roads leading to the IBB mansion were cordoned off on Wednesday, resulting in mourners walking long distances to the former military president’s house. However, top Nigerians, including former President Shehu Shagari, former military head of state, General Muhammadu Buhari, wife of the Vice-President, Mrs Patience Jonathan, state governors and ministers were allowed to drive their cars into the compound.


Meanwhile, Senate President, David Mark, has said that Mrs. Babangida “took giant strides that would be difficult to measure.” Mark said the late former first lady impacted so much on the lives of women and children that her contributions would be difficult to forget.


Paying tribute to the deceased after a condolence visit to General Babangida at his Minna Hilltop residence, the Senate president said that Nigerians should “accept that she was ripe to be called to the bossom of the Lord.”


Mark described the death of Mrs Babangida as “a big loss to this country; not just the family.” Former Lagos State governor, Senator Bola Tinubu, in his remarks, described the deceased as a “great symbol of patriotism and dedication to women’s liberation and development all over Africa.”


According to Tinubu, the late Mrs. Babangida did “not use her privileged class for herself,” rather, she did “a good job of bringing liberation to women, particularly the rural ones and market women.


“She was a great fighter of poverty,” Tinubu said, before advising Nigerian women to work hard and develop the legacies she left behind. Former head of state, General Muhammadu Buhari, who also was in Minna to condole with General Babangida, in his reaction, said: “We came here to pray for her and that is what we have done.”


Asked what lesson could be learnt from the life of the deceased, General Buhari declared “we are all in transition.” Professor Jerry Gana, former presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), described the death of Mrs Babangida as a “tremendous loss to both Niger State and the nation,” adding that Mrs Babangida “lived a life full of compassion, a life of wanting a better life for other people.


“She was dedicated to excellence, dedicated to humanity, dedicated to justice and fairness and equity,” Professor Gana said. Former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, said the deceased put smiles on the faces of many people” and therefore urged other first ladies to set up non-governmental organisations that would outlive them.


By: Dipo Laleye, Minna - 31.12.2009
Nigerian Tribune