CONFAB Loses Another Delegate, Ex-UNIMAD VC, Professor Alkali

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News Saturday, August 2nd, 2014

As it gradually rounds off its national assignment, the secretariat of the National Conference 2014 has announced the passing on of another delegate, Professor Muhammad Nur Alkali.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the Conference’s Assistant Secretary, Media and Communication, Akpandem James, the confab’s secretariat stated it received Saturday morning, the news of Professor Alkali, “with grief”, saying the sad news brought to six the conference delegates who had transited since the sitting began about four months ago in Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Professor Alkali who was the representative of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), the statement indicated died in his Maiduguri residence in the night of Friday, August 1, 2014 at the age of 68.

The late delegate was a Professor of History and two-term Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAD) between 1985 and 1992. He was once the Director General of the Nigeria Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) and Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee under the administration of late General Sani Abacha. Lately, he was appointed member of the Committee on Insecurity in the North East – (The Boko Haram Committee).

James informed that the late Professor would be buried later on today – August 2, 2014, in Maiduguri.

Meanwhile, condolences have started pouring on the delegate demise. The Conference Chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi, (GCON), stated that he felt deeply distressed by the sad development, adding on behalf of the Conference’s Secretariat and delegates, “expressed his deep condolences to the family of the late Professor and the NSCIA, the platform which Alkali represented at the Conference”. Justice kutigi prayed that Almighty “receives his spirit and grants his soul sweet repose”.

The latest death the statement recalled preceded by Barrister Hamma Misau (a delegate on the platform of the Retired Police officers), from Bauchi State, on Thursday, March 27, 2014; Dr. Mohammed Jumare (a delegate from Kaduna State) who died on Monday May 5, 2014 and Professor Dora Akunyili (a delegate who represented Anambra State) and who died on June 7, 2014.

The conference has early in the week in a press statement announced shift in resumption date, from Monday, August 4 to Aug. 11, 2014 so as to allow the secretariat compiled and make ready its final reports for the delegates.