Former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and elder statesman, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji, has died at the age of 94.
The respected diplomat and holder of the traditional title of Sardaunan Sokoto died on Thursday morning at Alliance Hospital in Abuja, where he had been receiving treatment for several weeks.
He was initially admitted to Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, before being transferred to the Abuja hospital.
The Dikkon Sokoto, Alhaji Ya’u Dogon Daji, who was also a relative of the deceased, confirmed the development, saying Alhaji had been ill for almost a month.
“He was first admitted at UDUTH in Sokoto before he was transferred to Alliance Hospital in Abuja, where he eventually died,” Daji said.
He said the late elder statesman had appeared to be recovering and had spoken with him two days before his death.
“He told me he was getting better and hoped to return to Sokoto very soon. That was my last conversation with him,” Daji added.
Daji also recalled that Alhaji had previously told him that he was 94 years old.
The deceased had largely withdrawn from public engagements in his later years, devoting much of his time to reading the Qur’an and worshipping Allah.
His funeral prayer was scheduled to take place at the Sultan Bello Mosque in Sokoto at about 4pm on Thursday, after which he would be buried at the royal cemetery, Hubbaren Shehu.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, was expected to arrive in the state for the funeral rites.
Alhaji was a holder of the revered title of Sardaunan Sokoto, historically associated with Sir Ahmadu Bello, the late Premier of Northern Nigeria who was assassinated in 1966.
He began his career in the Nigerian civil service in 1964 and rose through the ranks of the Federal Ministry of Finance, serving in several senior positions.
He later became Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Trade and subsequently Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance.
During his time at the Finance Ministry, Alhaji played a role in Nigeria’s dealings with external creditors and served on the country’s negotiating team for the Lomé II Convention.
In 1988, he was appointed Minister of State for Budget and Planning by the military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida. He later became Minister of Finance, serving from 1990 to 1991.
In the mid-1990s, he was appointed Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, representing the country’s diplomatic interests in London.
Beyond his federal appointments, Alhaji also served as Special Adviser on Economic Affairs to the governments of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
The late elder statesman was a nephew of the former Sultan of Sokoto, Ibrahim Dasuki, and was also his son-in-law, having married the Sultan’s eldest daughter.
He is survived by his wife, five children, grandchildren and other family members.
Among his children are Hajiya Aisha Abubakar, a former Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, and Aminu Alhaji, a former Special Adviser to former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.
Alhaji’s death brings to an end a distinguished public service career spanning more than five decades across Nigeria’s civil service, economic management, diplomacy and traditional leadership.
