Nigerians from all walks of life have continued to pay tribute to former Nigerian minister, media and business leader Malam Ismaila Isa Funtua who died of cardiac arrest on Monday.
Funtua, born in 1942 to late Malam Isan Ammani and Hajiya Hafsatu, was the founding Managing Director of the New Africa Holdings (publishers of the defunct Democrat newspapers), and a former President of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN).
He was also the founder/Chairman of Bulet International Nigeria Limited, an indigenous construction company and an alumni of the National Institute for Poliy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS). He was the Monitor General of the Course 9 at NIPSS, Kuru.
Funtua left behind a wife and two male and three female children. His son Abubakar is married to President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter Safina (Lami).
Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari said “The passing-on of Malam Sama’ila Isa Funtua is indeed a great loss not only to his family, associates and Katsina State but to the whole Nation. We pray that Almighty Allah in His infinite mercy will grant him Jannah and his family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”
Senate President Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan said “It is on a sad note that I express my heartfelt condolences to the family of the late business mogul, community leader, social and political activist and nationalist, Mallam Isa Funtua. The news of his death left me with profound sadness.”
“Even in death, Malam Isa Funtua’s presence will continue to be felt for a long time by Nigerians,” Lawan added, describing Funtua as a man who made friends across tribe, religion, generation and class in Nigeria, and touched many lives in public service as well as in his private life.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, commenting on his twitter handle, said “Inna lillahi wa inna Ilaihi Rajiun! On behalf of my family, I convey my deepest condolences to the Funtua family over the loss of its patriarch, Ismaila lsa Funtua. May Allah forgive his sins and grant him Aljannah Firdaus. I pray for the needed comfort and strength for his family, friends and associates to bear the loss. Ameen. –AA”
Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal said, “It’s with great shock and sadness I received the news on the demise of Malam Ismaila Isa Funtua. My Condolence to President Buhari and Governor Masari. May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him jannah Firdaus.”
Senator Kabiru Gaya said “I will like to extend my condolence to the family of Alhaji Ismaila Isa Funtua my Mentor. His death is a great loss to the people of Katsina State and Nigeria at large. May Allah SWT grant him Jannatul Firdausi.”
The Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa said “RIP. Malam Isa Funtua. I will miss his deep, honest counsel, fatherly advice. Forthright, wise and witty. Indeed a committed bridge builder. Quintessential gentleman.”
The Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, Prof. Abubakar O. Sulaiman has expressed shock and sadness at the tragic news of the death of the former life patron of Newspapers’ Proprietors Association of Nigeria, Malam Ismaila Isa Funtua.
Prof. Sulaiman also commiserated with President Muhammadu Buhari, the deceased family, government and people of Katsina state and the country as a whole over the irreparable loss and prayed for his soul to rest in perfect peace.
A Personal Assistant on New Media to President Buhari, Bashir Ahmad, also said on his twitter handle, “Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un! Just heard about Malam Ismaila Isa Funtua’s sudden death. This life! May Allah accept his soul, forgive his shortcomings and grant him Jannah al-Firdaus.”
