President Muhammadu Buhari has described the death of Justice Mamman Nasir, as not only “a loss to the judiciary, but also the country at large, because of his remarkable commitment to public service’’.
The President made the remarks when he reacted to the death of Nasir the former President of the Court of Appeal and Galadiman Katsina in a statement by his spokesman Garba Shehu in Abuja on Saturday.
President Buhari believed that the deceased belonged to a generation of Judges and Justices who perceived public office as an opportunity to offer selfless service to the country and its people.
He said: “Nasir and Judges of their golden age were more interested in leaving untainted record of integrity than accumulation of wealth overnight.
“When you look at Nasir’s modest lifestyle and his incredibly humble possessions, you would be disarmed at once by his honesty and patriotism.
“While some Nigerians perceive public office as an opportunity to line their pockets, men of Nasir’s character put a higher premium on honest labour than on greedy accumulation of questionable wealth overnight.’’
President Buhari explained that “gentlemen like Mamman Nasir succeeded in protecting their reputation because greed was far removed from their minds”, and that “contentment is the secret to a happy life of service to the people.”
According to the President, lack of contentment is the devil behind greedy accumulation of wealth at the expense of others, but “selfless public servants like Nasir were never motivated by the desire to live above their means.”
Meanwhile, the remains of the late Galadima-Kastina, who died in the afternoon at the Federal Medical Centre, Katsina, after a protracted illness, had been laid to rest according to Islamic rites in Malumfashi, his hometown, at about 6:25pm.
In his tribute, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara described the death of Justice Nasir as a monumental loss.
In a statement by the Special Adviser to the Speaker on Media and Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan, Dogara noted that Justice Nasir was a legal icon and courageous jurist, who served the country meritoriously and contributed immensely to the development of the law and independence of the judiciary.
“He played major roles in stabiling Nigeria at various times during periods of difficulty and uncertainty. His contribution to the overall development of Nigeria would be remembered as one of his legacies.”
The Speaker noted that his death came at a time his wisdom, wealth of experience and fatherly guidance are most needed, not only in his home state, Katsina, but in Nigeria at large.
While describing him as a notable jurist and patriotic elder statesman, Dogara stated that“ Nigeria has indeed lost a great and courageous man who exhibited good character and served his country with dignity and integrity.”
In its condolence message, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) described late Justice Nasir, as an embodiment of hard work, diligence and selflessness, who committed his life to nation building.
In its condolence message signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mohammed Ibrahim, issued in Kaduna on Saturday, ACF said that Nigeria and the North in particular have lost an elder statesman, bridge builder and a leader who lived a simple and humble life.
“The elder statesman was a man of great vision and public intelligence which he put to use in tireless support for the unity and stability of Nigeria.”
Until his death, he was the Galadiman-Katsina, District Head of Malumfashi in Katsina State and was one of kingmakers in Katsina Emirate Council.He was turbaned as Galadiman-Katsina in 1992 as he left behind three wives, 13 children and grandchildren.
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