By Francis Nansak, Lafia
Keffi, the country home of Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu, was thrown into a sombre mood on Thursday when news broke of the passing of Hajia Aisha Soda Danyaya.
As a devout and disciplined Muslim, she was buried the same day at about 2:30 p.m. according to Islamic rites.
After the burial, thousands of well-wishers of the Danyaya family made Keffi a visiting point to pay their last respects to the deceased and condole with the family over the irreplaceable loss.
Governor Engineer Abdullahi Sule was among the first to condole with Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu, the Keffi Emirate Council, and the people of Keffi.
Others included former Governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu; Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai (Rtd), a serving minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; and traditional rulers of Nasarawa State led by the Chairman of the Nasarawa State Traditional Rulers and Council of Chiefs, Justice Mohammed Sidi Bage, accompanied by the Andoma of Doma, Alhaji Amadu Ogah.
In his condolence message, Governor Sule prayed for the repose of the soul of Hajiya Aisha Soda Danyaya and condoled Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada and his family over the passing of his stepmother.
The governor was accompanied on the visit by the Deputy Governor of Benue State, Barr. Sam Ode.
He prayed to Almighty Allah (SWT) to forgive her shortcomings, grant her eternal rest in Aljannah Firdaus, and give the family strength and comfort in this moment of grief.
The Emir of Lafia and Chairman of the Nasarawa State Council of Chiefs, Justice Sidi Bage, in his condolence message delivered through the Andoma of Doma, mourned the great loss not only to the people of Keffi but also to the immediate Danyaya family. He wished her peaceful rest and prayed for Allah’s continued guidance upon the children she left behind.
On his part, former Governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, said while the late Hajiya and her husband were alive, he was a constant family friend who enjoyed their company.
Mu’azu prayed for the forgiveness of her soul and asked Allah to accept her in Firdaus.
Responding, Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu expressed profound gratitude to the governor, the Emir of Lafia, the former Bauchi governor, the minister, and Ambassador Tukur Buratai.
Speaking on behalf of the Danyaya family, he said he remained indebted to them not only for coming to condole with them at this moment of grief but also for the friendship and brotherhood shown before and after the death of his father, and now that Hajiya has gone to join him in paradise.
“I must say without any form of contradiction that your presence here today is not a recent visit to this family but a show of the long-standing relationship that existed even before the demise of my parents,” he said.
“And as children who were well brought up in a disciplined manner, we will continue to respect you, remain loyal subjects to all our leaders, and by the grace of Allah, reciprocate someday,” Wadada added.
A family source revealed that Late Hajiya Aisha Soda Danyaya was the third of Baba, Alhaji Danyaya’s four wives.
“She died at the age of 75. She was a disciplined woman and a caregiver..
“Hajiya was into petty trading because our late dad resisted the temptation of allowing his wives to take up other public jobs. As a dedicated Muslim, our father ensured that all our needs were met, but Hajiya was our channel of communication with him because she possessed the charisma and the right approach our father liked,” Halilu Danyaya disclosed.
