By Obinna Uballa
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and several prominent Nigerians on Sunday attended the funeral prayers for Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, mother of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, at the National Mosque in Abuja.
The Islamic funeral rites (Janazah prayers) drew a large gathering of political leaders, traditional rulers and business figures who came to sympathise with the El-Rufai family.
Among the dignitaries present were the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II; billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote; former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami; and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Also in attendance were Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago, former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari, and former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, among others.
Videos and photographs circulating on social media showed Obi and other dignitaries arriving at the mosque and taking their seats alongside other mourners before the commencement of the prayers.
Atiku confirmed his presence at the ceremony in a post on his X handle, noting that he joined family members, friends and associates of the former Kaduna governor to pay their last respects to the deceased.
“Today, I joined family, friends and associates of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and the extended El-Rufai family at the Janazah of the matriarch of the family, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai,” he wrote.
“May God continue to comfort the family and all who mourn her, and may Allah grant her Aljannah Firdaus. Amin.”
Several notable Nigerians, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former senator Shehu Sani, and Nuhu Ribadu, had earlier paid tributes to the late matriarch, describing her as a devoted mother and respected community figure.
