Date: 2016-05-02

The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, has expressed ?shock over the death of the Walin Sokoto, Amb. Hamzat Ahmadu who died on Sunday describing it has a great loss to the entire nation.

Alhaji Sulu-Gambari also commiserated with the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar as well as the government and people of ?Sokoto state over the colossal loss of a rear gem.

In his condolence message issued on Monday by the National Secretary of Shehu Alimi Foundation for Peace and Development, Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona, ?the Emir urged the Sultan to find solace in the fact that the late Walin Sokoto lived a fulfilled life worthy of emulation.

According to him, "Ambassador Hamzat Ahmadu, was accepted as an Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary to the United States of America in 1987. Also, as one of Nigeria's most senior Foreign Service Officers, the deceased has had a most distinguished Diplomatic career.

"He previously served as Ambassador to the then USSR (Soviet Union) and then German Democratic Republic (1975-1978); Ambassador to the Kingdom of Netherlands (1978-1981); and Ambassador to the Republic of the Cameroun (1982-1984). High Commissioner to the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. He also had Diplomatic postings to London and Bonn.?"

The Emir further stated that "?after his retirement, the late Walin Sokoto was appointed first Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Anambra State, Nigeria, an office I also held for 15 years before my recent redeployment to University of Agriculture, Makurdi." ?

While describing the late ex-envoy as a compassionate diplomatic officer during his days, ?the emir prayed Allah to grant him Al-Jannatul Firdaos and give his ?immediate families and the Sokoto caliphate at large the fortitude to bear the irreparable ?loss.