Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, came to a standstill yesterday as the late former Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Aisha Jummai Alhassan, popularly known as Mama Taraba, was buried.
Her corpse which arrived at Jalingo Airport around 5:15pm was taken to her father’s house at GRA, Jalingo.
Aisha’s body was brought to the palace of Emir of Muri around 6:46 pm.
The Chief Imam of Jalingo Central Mosque, Imam Nuru Dinga, led thousands of people during the funeral prayer.
Shortly after the funeral, the body of late Jummai Alhassan was moved to Jeka da fari burial ground in an ambulance where she was laid to rest.
The funeral prayer was witnessed by Deputy Governor of Taraba State, Haruna Manu, serving and former senators, members of the House of Representatives, members, State House of Assembly, emirs and chiefs.
The Jeka da fari burial ground was besieged by thousands of sympathisers including Christians, her political associates from within and outside the state.
Taraba gov’t receives condolences
Meanwhile, Governor Darius Ishaku, on Monday, received more condolence messages from across the state and beyond over the death of Jummai Alhassan who died on Friday.
The latest was from the governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha.
Aged 61, late Jummai Alhassan was survived by her father, three children and 13 grandchildren.
Alhaji Ismaila Yakawada also led a delegation of family members of her former husband, Professor Ango Abdullahi.
Governor Darius Ishaku received a high-powered delegation of the Adamawa State government led by the state Commissioner for Works, Alhaji Adamu Atiku Abubakar.
Speaking during the visit, Alhaji Abubakar described the death of Hajiya Aisha as the loss of an icon.
In his reaction, Gov Ishaku thanked his Adamawa State counterpart, Fintiri, for the visit of the delegation and promised that he would work with him to promote and nurture the healthy relationship that currently exists between the two states
He described Jumai Alhassan as a wonderful woman. “She was an honest person. If she said she was supporting you, she would do so wholeheartedly,” Ishaku said.