The Vice President, Kashim Shettima and the Sultan of Sultan were among the dignitaries that attended the burial rite of former Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Sardaunan Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji.

Alhaji who died on Thursday at a hospital in Abuja, was buried in Sokoto in accordance with Islamic rites.

The funeral prayer was led by the Chief Imam of Sultan Bello Juma’at Mosque, Sokoto, Sheikh Muhammad Bello Akwara.

The Vice President represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Also in attendance were the Ministers of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, and of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Atiku Bagudu.

The Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Engr. Idris Muhammad Gobir, represented Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, who is out of the country.

The elder statesman passed away at the age of 87.

Alhaji served as Minister of State, Budget and Planning in 1988. He later served as Minister of Finance between 1990 and 1991 during the administration of former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida.

He later represented Nigeria as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1992 to 1996, where he helped deepen bilateral relations.