The remains of the former Minister for Women Affairs and Social Development, late Senator Aisha Alhassan has been committed to the mother earth in Jalingo, the Taraba state capital.

The enterment which was done according to the Islamic rites witnessed mammoth crowd who came to pay their last respect to the deceased.

A brief funeral ceremony also took place at the Emir of Muri’s Palace in Jalingo, led by the Chief Imam of Jalingo Central Mosque, Ustaz Nuruddeen Muhammad Dinga.

Late Mrs Alhassan, a two times governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and United Democratic Party (UDP) died last Friday at a hospital in Cairo, Egypt after a brief illness at the age of 61.

The body that was received by the Taraba state government’s delegation and sympathisers arrived at the Danbaba Suntai Airport in Jalingo around 5.30pm from Cairo via Lagos on Monday evening 10th May, 2021.

Late Sen. Aisha Alhassan was interred around 7:30 pm according to Islamic rites at the Jekadafari Cemetary Jalingo.

The Chief Imam of Jalingo Central Mosque, Ustaz Nuruddeen Dinga who led the funeral prayers, earlier urged the people to be humble and submit to Allah, who is the maker of all things.

The funeral prayer was attended by top government functionaries, traditional rulers, political party stalwarts, family members and other dignitaries within and outside the state.

Our Correspondent also sighted three Pigeons on top of the Jalingo Central Mosque facing the”Kiblah” during the funeral prayer.

Late Senator Alhassan was elected a Senator under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the seventh Assembly.

She was appointed as a Minister for Women Affairs and Social Development in 2015 by President Muhammadu Buhari but later resigned to fly the governorship flag under the UDP in the 2019 election.

Meanwhile, Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba has received a high-powered delegation from Adamawa State Government on a condolence visit over the death of Aisha Alhassan.

The delegation led by the state Commissioner for Works, Alhaji Adamu Atiku, also presented a letter of condolence from Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa.

Speaking at Govenment House Jalingo, the Commissioner described the death of late Senator Aisha Alhassan as a loss of an icon.

“Taraba has lost an icon, a mother in a million, one who was very kind and generous.

“We pray to God to give Govenor Ishaku and the entire people of Taraba state the fortitude to bear the loss,” said Adamu.

Responding, Governor Darius Ishaku, thanked them for the visit and promised to sustain the existing cordial relationship between the two states.

Ishaku described late Alhassan as a wonderful woman and an honest person who keep to promise.

“If she expresses her support for you, she will do so wholeheartedly,” Ishaku said.

On his part, Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi expressed condolences on the death of the former Minister, Aisha Alhassan, describing the news as shocking and disheartening.

The Governor in a condolence message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, described the late Ahassan as a woman who believed in hard work, excellence and service to humanity and who worked her way to the top of her professional calling by diligence and positive attitude.

The Governor stated that Alhassan’s commitment to serving humanity was responsible for her huge influence among the Taraba people who nicknamed her ‘Maman Taraba’, and gave her the opportunity of representing them at the Senate.

Dr Fayemi recalled his working relationship with the former Minister when they both served as members of the Federal Executive Council, describing her as a pace setter and good ambassador of the women-folk having served as the first female Taraba State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and the first woman to be appointed as Secretary FCT Judicial Council.

Describing the deceased as a colourful politician who harboured no bitterness, Dr. Fayemi said her exit is not only painful, but will create a void in the national polity.

While praying God to give the family of the deceased the fortitude to bear the loss, Governor Fayemi urged them to be consoled by the fact she lived an impactful life.

“On behalf of my wife, Bisi, the Government and good people of Ekiti State, I commiserate with the immediate family members as well as associates of the former Minister and pray that God grants her Aljannah Firdaus.” the Governor added.

In a statement, Nguroje sympathized with the immediate family of the late Aisha, the people of Taraba State and Nigeria at large.

Also, the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) has mourned the death of the former Minister describing it as unfortunate and sad.

This is contained in a condolence massage issued by NCWS National President, Mrs Laraba Shoda, to newsmen.

She said that the deceased was a strong supporter of the council and women.

”It is with heavy heart that I announce the passing to glory of our dear mentor and supporter of this NCWS administration, Jummai Alhassan, a former Minister of Women Affairs and great Mama Taraba.

A former Commissiner for Information to the former Governor Jolly Nyame and two times Chief of Staff to late Govenor Danbaba Suntai, Malam Aminu Jika who spoke to journalists in Jalingo on his relationship with the late Senator Jummai Alhassan said:

“We have lost a giant Politicialy, we lost a relative, we lost a voice and a political Colleague. We are not only extended family with her, but Political Colleague. She always stood and do what is right.

“While we are sad, we are also happy. We are sad because we lost a political giant, Community leader, a mother and a sister which she also Gives. We are happy because of the way she died. As a Muslim, she will be happy because she was born on Friday that is why she is called Jummai, she was talking to Egypt on Friday and she died on Friday, those are Holy days in Islam. She died in the last ten days of Ramadan.

Late Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan was born on the 16th September 1959 in Jalingo, Taraba State to the family of Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim.

She left behind three children that include Hajara Ango Abdullahi, Abubakar Sadiq Ango Abdullahi and Kamila Ango Abdullahi, thirteen grandchildren as well as her aged father, Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim (Sarkin Ayyukan Muri) and many relations.