Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the Labour Party’s former presidential flagbearer, Peter Obi, were among prominent Nigerians who gathered at the National Mosque in Abuja on Sunday for the funeral prayers of Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, mother of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
Also present at the solemn occasion were the 16th Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi; industrialist Aliko Dangote; former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami; and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
A number of political figures attended as well, including Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago, former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari, and ex-National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje, among others.
Images and video clips shared online captured the arrival of Obi and other dignitaries at the mosque. They were later seen seated alongside other mourners before participating in the Islamic funeral rites, known as Janazah prayers.
Atiku confirmed his presence at the ceremony in a post on his X handle, writing, “Today, I joined family, friends and associates of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and the extended El-Rufai family at the Janazah (funeral prayer) of the matriarch of the family, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai.
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“May God continue to comfort the family and all who mourn her. And may Allah grant her Aljannah Firdaus. Amin.”
Hajiya Umma El-Rufai died on Friday in Cairo, Egypt, where she had been undergoing treatment for an age-related illness.
Prior to the funeral, several prominent Nigerians, including President Bola Tinubu, Shehu Sani, and Nuhu Ribadu, had paid tribute to her.
