Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says late Sani Dangote was instrumental to developing the Federal Government’s tomato and other agricultural policies.
Osinbajo disclosed this on Wednesday, in Kano, when he visited business magnate, Aliko Dangote, to commiserate with him over the death of his younger brother, Sani Dangote, the Group vice President of the Dangote Group.
Osinbajo was accompanied on the condolence visit by Gov. Abudullahi Ganduje of Kano State.
Sani, who passed on at a hospital in the US, on Nov. 14, had earlier been buried on Wednesday.
“We are here to commiserate with you; I know the Federal Government already sent a delegation; they just left but Sani was a good friend of mine; somebody I considered a collaborator.
“He was very instrumental to drawing up our tomato policy and several other agricultural policies that he was part of. It was a big shock for us that he has passed on.
” I want to just extend my own personal condolence to you and other members of the family”, Osinbajo said
The vice President described Sani’s death as a sad event and expressed his belief that God would comfort the family, while emphasising that the deceased left behind an excellent legacy.
“A man who was committed to his country; to his family; committed to his people.
“I pray that the Almighty God will comfort of all us; I pray that we all live long and live well. I pray that this country of ours will make progress and it that it will be well with all of us.”
Responding, Dangote thanked Osinbajo for coming to commiserate with the family.
The vice president also visited and condoled with the late Dangote’s wife, Aisha, and his mother, Mariya Dantata.
The vice president later proceeded to the Palace of Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, where he condoled with the traditional ruler on the loss of an illustrious son of the emirate.
In his condolence message, Osinbajo told the Emir that the incident was saddening.
“We are here on a very sad mission to commiserate with you and the people of Kano on the passing of a great son, Alhaji Sani Dangote.
“Sani was a friend of mine; he is someone that had worked with us, especially our agricultural policies.
“So, I am here to mourn a brother and a friend. I really commiserate with you on the passage of such a great son of Kano and I pray that we will not see this kind of death again in Kano,” he said.
He prayed God to comfort the traditional ruler, all the emirate council and the people of Kano.
In his response, Bayero said that late Dangote’s death was not only a loss to Kano State but a loss to all Nigerians especially the vice president who had a long standing relationship with the deceased.
The traditional ruler who prayed for peace in Nigeria, said that the vice president’s visit underscored his cordial relationship with the people of Kano.
“The fact that the vice president is here shows his relationship and his love for the people of Kano.
“You know your good friends in bad times and in good times. I welcome you and want you to my condolence to President Muhammadu Buhari.
“I thank both the Federal and state governments on their efforts at improving the lives of the people through various development projects. I pray for peace and security of Nigeria,” he said.
