Date: 2019-06-05

The outgoing President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, has commiserated with the Emir of Ilorin, His Royal Highness, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, over the death of his mother, the late Alhaja Aishat Nma Zuluqarnain Gambari.

A statement by Saraki's spokesperson, Yusuph Olaniyonu on Tuesday, said the Senate President received with immeasurable pain, the news of the passing of the monarch's mother, Saraki's statement read, "I find it extremely difficult to accept that our mother and our revered queen-mother has departed.

"Even though I am short of words to express my sadness and to praise her virtues, I want to say that Nma Zuluqarnain's demise has left a great void in our lives - my family and I - which will be difficult to fill.

"We have lost a virtuous and compassionate queen-mother, who lived her life in the service of Allah, the Muslim Ummah, the Ilorin Royal House, the Ilorin Emirate Council, Kwara State and the nation at large.

"She was always there for me. Her love and affection for me and my family cannot be quantified. Her soothing words of motherly advice to me over time still rings in my ears.

"I can say that during my meetings with our mother over the years, I found her to be a complete embodiment of peace, wisdom, humility, hard work, philanthropy, discipline and piety."