President Muhammadu Buhari has extended heartfelt condolences to a former First Lady, Maryam Abacha, and their family on the death of their son, Abdullahi.
The president made his feelings known in a statement by his media aide, Malam Garba Shehu, on Saturday in Abuja.
According to the presidential aide, the president’s prayers and thoughts are with the family of Abacha as they grieve the passing of the young Abdullahi.
The president prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased and comfort for those who mourned.
Announcing the news of his passing, one of his sisters and wife of Yobe State governor, Gumsu Sani Abacha tweeted on Saturday that he died in his sleep.
Her tweet read: “Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un. I lost my younger brother Abdullahi Sani Abacha. He died in his sleep. May Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him Jannat ul Firdaus, Ameen. Please include him in your prayers.”
The deceased is one of the 10 children (seven sons and 3 daughters) the late General gave birth to before his demise in 1998.
Recall Abacha had come into power in 1993 after displacing the interim government headed by the late Ernest Shonekan in the last coup d’etat recorded in Nigeria.
He died mysteriously on 8 June 1998, inside the Aso Rock Villa, just before he could complete his planned transition from a military ruler to a democratic president.
Abacha was buried on the same day according to Muslim tradition and without an autopsy, leading to speculations that his death may not have come naturally.
